


,. ^ 4.V *^ W^^^,. *?■ -^, 













tvT* V^ 










'o , » 





t V >^^ - • • • * \^ "^ " • • < V 



* V 



^oV . 











t • o 




















.0 










. 







* .^ 







■ • . »C- 







HISTORY 



OF 



WOLFEBOROUGH 



(NEW HAMPSHIRE) 



AY 
I 



Benjamin Franklin Parker 



Hoc solum fcelix, haec jucundissima Terra, 
Agrestem gaudet, gravem reddetq; Laborem; 
Frumentum et Tritticum largedat fertile campum. 
Winniresocke Palus (quamvis sis Nomine rudis) 
Pnmum inter Stagna praeferres in Ordine Famce, 
Luciolis, Truttis aureisq natantibus, undis. 

H: A: Antigal 

INSCRIPTION ON PROPRIETORS' RECORDS. 



■ • • 



• • • 






PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN 
A.D. MDCCCCl. 



1^16 



1^5 b% 



PRSaS OF 

OACSTIC 3e OLAFLIN 

OAMBRIDGS: 

MASS. 



INTRODUCTION. 




N the preparation of this volume, one thing, above all 
others, has been kept in mind — accuracy. The work 
is a history in fact as well as in name. 

The author, during his long life, was privileged to 
come face to face with most of his living sources of 
information. All other matters considered are based upon authen- 
ticated records and documents. Although Mr. Parker was not 
permitted to see the completion of his life work, his ideas in this 
particular have been strictly adhered to by those who succeeded 
him. The story of a historic town, as told in succeeding pages, is 
a true story and, we confidently assert, an unusually interesting 
one. 

The town first took action in the matter in 1898, when Messrs. 
Edwin H. Lord, Albert B. Rust, and Frederick W. Prindle were 
appointed a committee to confer with the author. As a result of 
their interested and painstaking labors, this volume, published 
under an appropriation of the town, is now offered to the public. 

The book is not particularly rich in genealogies. Much valuable 
material of this sort remains unused among the author's papers. 
Not because it lacked value, not because it was uninteresting, but 
for the sole reason that the scope of the work forbade its incor- 
poration therein. 

This history of Wolfeborough, then, written by one who for 
more than three-fourths of a century lived in and wrought for the 
town, is respectfully presented to those who, by right of birth or 
adoption, proudly call themselves her sons and daughters. 

The Editor. 



CHAPTER I. 

Discovery of Piscataqua River — New England — Council of 
Plymouth — Gorges and Mason — Laconia — First Set- 
tlements AT Piscataqua — New Hampshire — Mason's 
Grant — Death of Mason and his Heirs — Land sold 
TO Samuel Allen — Young Mason's Claims and the 
Disposal of the Property. 

BEFORE proceeding with the particular history of the town of 
Wolfeborough it may not be uninteresting or unprofitable 
to briefly consider the titles by which the lands in " this and 
many other towns in the state of New Hampshire are held. It 
is well known that the European governments claimed the 
right to hold such lands as might be discovered on the American 
continent by their subjects. In 1614 that remarkable voyager, 
Captain John Smith, while examining the coast from Penobscot 
River to Cape Cod, discovered the Piscataqua River, which he de- 
scribes as "a safe harbor with a rocky shore." On his return to 
England he published a description of the country with a map of 
the sea-coast, which he presented to Prince Charles, who gave to 
the region the name of New England. 

In 1620 King James constituted a council of forty persons — 
"noblemen, knights, and gentlemen, by the name of the Council 
Established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the Plant- 
ing, Ruling, and Governing of New England in America." They 
were a corporation with perpetual succession, vacancies being 
filled by election of the majority. Their territory extended from 
the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of north latitude. This 
charter was the foundation of all grants that were made of the 



6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

country of New England. Two of the most active members of 
this Council were Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John 
Mason. 

In 1622 Gorges and Mason obtained a grant of all the lands 
between the rivers Merrimac and Sagadahock, "extending back 
to the great lakes and river of Canada," which they called La- 
conia. They, having formed a co-partnership with several Eng- 
lish merchants, the following year commenced settlements on the 
Piscataqua River. In 1629 Mason obtained a patent from the 
Council of Plymouth for the land "from the middle of the 
Piscataqua River, and up the same to the farthest head thereof; 
and from thence northwestward, until sixty miles were finished : 
also, through Merrimac River to the farthest head thereof; and 
so forward, up into the land westward, until sixty miles were 
finished ; and from thence to cross over land to the end of sixty 
miles accounted from Piscataqua River, together with all the 
islands within five leagues from the coast." This tract of land 
was called New Hampshire. A straight line from the two inland 
points indicated would pass through the town of Wolfeborough ; 
while a curved line, as it was claimed it should be, would probably 
be as far north as Moultonborough. The territory included with- 
in these lines is but a small part of that which now constitutes the 
state of New Hampshire. 

In June, 1635, the Plymouth Council was required to surrender 
its charter to the king. Mason, however, had taken the pre- 
caution to have his former grant confirmed previous to the sur- 
render. He immediately commenced making arrangements to 
send men and supplies to New Hampshire, a step rendered neces- 
sary by the lanquishing condition of the settlements on the 
Piscataqua. His death, which occurred within the year, pre- 
vented the accomplishment of his purpose. In his will, after be- 
queathing several legacies, he devised the residue of his estate 
in New Hampshire to his grandson, John Tufton, and his lawful 
issue ; the legatee, in any case, being required to take the sur- 
name of Mason. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 7 

In 1638 the widow of Mason, who was also his executrix, at- 
tempted to carry out his plans of settlement through an agent, 
but, finding that the expenses exceeded the income, gave up the 
attempt ; and for the time the property became valueless. In 
1641 the few settlements in New Hampshire came under the juris- 
diction of Massachusetts. In 1652 Joseph Mason, an agent of the 
executrix, made an attempt to recover the interest of the estate 
in the territory, but failed of accomplishing his purpose. 

John Tufton, the first named residuary legatee in Mason's will, 
died in infancy, and, consequently, Robert Tufton, at the death of 
the widow, succeeded to whatever rights the family might still 
possess in the New Hampshire property. He assumed the sur- 
name of Mason, and on the restoration of Charles the Second, ap- 
plied to the throne for redress. The response was favorable, but 
no immediate beneficial results followed. Becoming discouraged, 
he, in 1674, seriously thought of alienating his right to the crown. 
This scheme was, however, abandoned, and the following year he 
again petitioned the king for the restoration of his property. The 
matter was referred to the proper law officers, and it was finally 
determined that Mason had a legal right to the lands which he 
claimed. This decision eventually led to the separation of New 
Hampshire from Massachusetts, which event took place in 1680. 

Mason, having been appointed one of the council of New 
Hampshire, repaired to the province, when commenced vexatious 
disputes between him and the individual landholders in relation 
to titles. He died in 1689, leaving his sons, John and Robert, 
heirs to his claim — and his controversies. 

In 1 69 1 the two heirs sold their rights to Samuel Allen, a Lon- 
don merchant. Allen had the address to successfully defeat an 
attempt which was then made to re-annex New Hampshire to 
Massachusetts, and to secure the appointment of his son-in-law, 
John Usher, to the office of lieutenant-governor of the province. 

A change of claimants did not render the settlers any more 
acquiescent, and they as resolutely resisted the demands of Allen 



8 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

as they had previously those of Mason. At length a compromise 
was proposed ; and arrangements were being made to effect an 
amicable adjustment of the matters in dispute, when Allen died. 
His son and heir renewed the controversy, but soon died. His 
other children being minors, no further effective efforts were 
made by the family to substantiate its claim. 

When John and Robert Mason sold their claim to Samuel Allen 
in 1691, it was supposed that there might be a flaw in the transfer. 
No notice was taken of this, however, during the lives of the two 
Masons. John, the elder, died without issue. Robert married 
in New England, and had a son, who, after the death of his 
father, conceived hopes of invalidating Allen's purchase and re- 
covering his paternal inheritance. He, however, died before he 
had obtained sufficient means to prosecute his claim. His eldest 
son, John Tufton Mason, arrived at his majority in 1738, at which 
time a controversy in relation to jurisdiction between the province 
of Massachusetts and that of New Hampshire was in agitation. 
The politicians of Massachusetts, conceiving that it might be for 
their advantage, advised young Mason to assert his pretensions. 
They purchased of him a quit-claim of nearly four thousand acres 
of land lying within the border towns of the province, and paid 
the expenses of a voyage to England, that he might better prose- 
cute his claim. The agents of Massachusetts, afterwards learn- 
ing that by pressing the claim of Mason they might prejudice 
the court in relation to their own interests, released him from 
further obligation to them. 

Thomlinson, the ever-watchful agent for New Hampshire, be- 
ing apprised of this action, entered into an agreement with Mason 
for the release of his claim to the provincial assembly. A variety 
of circumstances conspired to prevent the ratification of this agree- 
ment, and in 1746 he conveyed his whole interest in New Hamp- 
shire lands to Theodore Atkinson, Mark H. Wentworth, Richard 
Wibird, John Wentworth (son of Governor Benning Went- 
worth), George Jaffrey, Samuel Moore, Nathaniel Meserve, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. g 

Thomas Packer, Thomas WalHngford, Jonathan Odiorne, Joshua 
Pierce, and John Moffat for fifteen hundred pounds. Atkinson 
had three shares ; Mark H. Wentworth, two ; and the other ten 
purchasers, one share each. These persons were styled the Pro- 
prietors of Mason's Patent, or the Masonian Proprietors. 



CHAPTER II. 

Grant of Township — Kingswood — Admission of Associates 
— How THE New Town was named — The Miles Road 
— Elisha Bryant fells Trees — First Meeting of 
Town Proprietors — Town named, surveyed, and di- 
vided — Effort to promote Settlement — Terms under 
which Land could be acquired — Separation into 
Lots — Descriptive Boundaries — Boundaries of Sub- 
divisions and Additions. 

ON the fifth day of October, 1759, the principal part of the 
territory now embraced within the limits of the town of 
Wolfeborough was granted to certain persons by the following 
instrument : — 

Prov. of New Hampshire — At a Meeting of the Proprietors of 
the Lands purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esq., or the Pro- 
prietors of Mason's Patent so-called holden at the House James 
Stoodley, Inn-holder at Portsmouth, the fifth day of October, 
Anno Domini, 1759. 

Whereas sundry young Gentlemen of the Town of Portsmouth 
in said Province have applied to said Proprietors and repre- 
sented that they are disposed to make a settlement of a new 
Plantation and to advance all such Sums of Money from Time 
to Time as should be necessary to a Vigorous Prosecution of 
that Design if they could obtain the Title of said Proprietors to 
a suitable Tract of Land for that Purpose and thereupon have 
requested such a Grant, and said Proprietors being willing to 
encourage a proposition so likely to be of public Utility, there- 
fore 

Voted That there be and hereby is granted unto William Earl 

le 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. u 

Treadwell, Henry Apthorp, Ammi Ruhamah Cutter and David 
Sewall all of Portsmouth aforesaid and such others as they 
shall admit as Associates with them and their respective Heirs 
and Assigns forever all the Right, Title, Estate, Property & 
Demand of said Proprietors of in and into a Certain Tract of 
Land in the Province aforesaid Equal in Quantity to thirty Six 
square Miles Bounded as follows Viz : beginning at the North 
Easterly corner of a Tract of Land granted by said Proprietors 
to Jonathan Chesle & others known by the Name of New Dur- 
ham then running North forty Eight Degrees East on the Head 
or uper Line of a Tract of Land called Middletown and on 
that called Salmon falls — Town or as those head Lines run join- 
ing thereon and running so far as that a Line runing from 
thence Six Miles North West and then South West to Win- 
nepiseoky Pond and then by the side of said Pond joining 
thereon untill the aforesaid Corner first mentioned bears South 
East and then running South East to the said Corner makes up 
the aforesaid Quantity of thirty Six square Miles, Excepting 
and reserving as is herein after Expressed and on the Con- 
ditions and limitations and Terms herein after declared to have 
and to hold the said granted Premises with the Appurtenances 
to them the said William Earl Treadwell, Henry Apthorp, 
Ammi Ruhamah Cutter and David sewall and their Associates 
their several and respective Heirs and Assigns forever on the 
Terms reservations Limitations & Conditions following Viz. — 
First that the said Tract of Land be at the Cost of the Grantees and 
their Associates laid out as soon as may be into four equal Parts 
both for Quantity and Quality and one of the said Parts to be 
determined by Lot be & hereby is Excepted and reserved to 
the said Proprietors and their Assigns, which Quarter Part 
shall be also laid out at the Expense of the said Grantees and 
their Associates when requested by said Proprietors into twenty 
Shares or Lots three of which shall be for the following Public 
Uses Viz. one for the Use of a School, one for the Use of the 



12 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

first Minister of the Gospell who shall Settle there the other 
for the use of the Ministry of the Gospel who shall settle there 
forever, and the other Seventeen Lotts to be for the Use of the 
other Persons to whom they shall fall by Lot hereafter to be 
drawn their Heirs and Assigns by which Method also the afore- 
said Lots for Public uses shall be determined and all necessary 
Public or General High ways shall be laid out in the said re- 
served Quarter at the Expense of the said Grantees and As- 
sociates, no High way to be less than two Rods wide and all 
the Shares Lots and Divisions in the said Quarter Part shall 
not be liable to any Charge in setling and carying this Proposal 
into Execution untill the same shall be improved by the respec- 
tive owner — 

Secondly the said Grantees shall have ten Families setled on said 
three Quarters of said Tract of Land within three Years after a 
Public Peace shall be concluded between the EngHsh French 
and Indians and within Eight Years after such a Peace to have 
forty Familys settled there and a Convenient House built for 
the Public Worship of God and all necessary High ways shall 
be laid out thro' the said Land of the Breadth aforesaid, all the 
said Matters and Things are to be done at the Charge and Ex- 
pense of the Grantees and their Associates, Provided that if 
after such a peace a war with the Indians should again com- 
mence before the Expiration of the several periods before 
Limited the like Time shall be allowed as before specified after 
that Impediment shall be removed — Moreover all White Pine 
Trees fit for his Majesty's L^se in the services of the Royal 
Navy are hereby reserved to his Majesty's Use his Heirs & 
Successors for that Purpose that are or hereafter shall be grow- 
ing on said Land — And in Case the said Grantees and their 
Associates shall neglect and omit to perform the Articles Mat- 
ters or Things before mentioned by them to be done or that 
shall be added by Agreement between said Proprietors & them 
according to the true Intent and meaning hereof and within the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. j^ 

Time limited for that Purpose ; it shall & may be lawfull to and 
for said Proprietors and they are hereby authorized either by 
themselves or any of them their Agent or Agents or Attorneys 
in their Name to Enter and take possession of said Granted 
Premises & become Reseized thereof & be again instated as in 
their former Estate and as if this Grant had never been made 
— And further it is agreed and this Condition Added that the 
Grantors Lots shall not be subjected to any Town or Parish 
Charges or Tax neither by Act of Assembly or otherways until 
they shall by them be respectively Setled or Sold by the 
Grantees and their Associates shall keep and save them wholly 
indemnified from the same, and also that neither the Grantors 
nor their Heirs shall be by Virtue of this Grant bound or held 
to Warrant the said granted Premises to the Grantees nor their 
Associates. And that there be also reserved in the most con- 
venient Place in the said three Quarter parts of said Tract 
hereby granted, Ten Acres of Land, to be laid out by the said 
Grantees and their Associates, in, or as near as can be in a 
Square, for Public Uses for the Benefit of the Inhabitants of 
the whole Tract herein described Viz. for a Training Field, 
Burying Ground and any other Public Use. 

Copy of Record Examined 
Per Geo. Jaffrey, Proprietors' Clerk." 

The foregoing instrument shows how Treadwell, Apthorp, Cut- 
ter and Sewall became the proprietors of the original township of 
Wolfeborough. Twenty-one days after receiving the aforesaid 
grant, they admitted with them twenty associates by the following 
conveyance : — 

To whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: 

Whereas, the Proprietors of Mason's Patent so called for the 
Encouraging the Settlement of a new Plantation, on the fifth 



14 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Day of October Instant Granted and conveyed unto us Wil- 
liam Earl Treadwell & Henry Apthorp Merchants Animi 
Ruhamah Cutter physician and David Sewall Attorney at Law 
all of Portsmouth in the Province of New Hampshire all the 
Right Estate and Demand of said Proprietors to a Certain 
Tract of Land equal in Quantity to thirty Six square Miles 
Bounded as follows (The boundaries are the same as in the 
grant) to Have and to Hold the said Premises with their Ap- 
purtances to us and our Associates & our Respective Heirs and 
Assigns under the Reservations and on the Conditions and 
Limitations Expressed in the said Grant as may more fully ap- 
pear by reference thereto. 

Now know ye, That We, the said William Earl Tieadwell, 
Henry Apthorp, Anmii Ruhamah Cutter and David Sewall for 
carrying on & making the said settlement have admitted as As- 
sociates in the said Grant Daniel Peirce, Esq., Paul March, 
Gentlemen ; John Rindge, Daniel Rindge, John Wentworth, 
George Meserve, Robert Odiorne, Jotham Rindge, Samuel 
Moffatt, Thomas Wentworth, Merchants ; George King, Henry 
Rust, John Parker, Isaac Rindge, Mariners ; Joshua Brackett, 
Gentleman, All of Portsmouth ; William Parker of Kingston in 
said Province, Gentleman ; Nathaniel Peasely Sargent of 
Haverhill, County of Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay, 
Attorney at Law; Daniel Tredwell of New York, Province of 
New York, Gentleman ; Thomas Darling, Master of the Mast- 
si lip, called the Strafford and John Long, Master of the 
Mastship called Winchester both lately residing in said 
Portsmouth. 

In consideration of the Sum of Five Shillings to us in hand 
paid by them the Receipt whereof to our full satisfaction we do 
hereby acknowledge Have given granted bargained & sold and 
by these Presents Do give grant bargain Sell Convey and Con- 
firm unto them our said Associates all our Right Title Interest 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



15 



Estate and Demand which we have by Virtue of the said Grant 
of in & unto Twenty, Four-and-Twentyeth Parts of three Quar- 
ters of said Tract of Land Excepting only Ten Acres which is 
to be held in Common for Public Uses To Have and To Hold 
the said Granted & bargained premises with the Appurtenances 
unto them the said Associates viz. To Each of them one four & 
Twentieth Part aforesaid & to his Heirs & Assigns Forever on 
the same Terms Limitations and Conditions mentioned in the 
Grant to us ; by us and our Associates to be performed & Done 
they doing Paying and performing each his Respective Share 
and Proportion thereof And Whereas our Share Part & Propor- 
tion of said Land which Remains to us being four twenty 
fourth Parts of the said three Quarters is in Common un- 
severed we hereby mutually agree to divide, and by these Pres- 
ents do sever divide & make Partition of the same to each, one 
iov.T & twentieth Part of the said three Quarter Parts to hold, to 
each his Heirs & Assigns in Federalty, forever. In Witness 
whereof we have hereunto Set our hands and Seals the twenty 
fourth Day of October Anno Domini 1759. 

Signed Sealed and Delivered 
in the presence of us 

Joseph Wiggin William Earle Treadwell 

William Parker H. F. Apthorp 

A. R. Cutter 
David Sewall 

Province of New Hampshire — October 26th 1759 then the 
within Named Henry Apthorp Ammi Ruhamah Cutter & David 
Sewall Personally appearing acknowledged this Instrument to 
be their free Act & Deed 

Before William Parker Justice of Peace. 
The organization of Kingswood, a town chartered by Gov- 



1 6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

ernor Belcher, October 20, 1737, embracing within its Hmits a 
portion of the territory included within the boundaries of Wolfe- 
borough, may now very properly be considered. This town was 
situated north of Rochester and Barrington, and comprised 
Middleton (including Brookfield), New Durham, New Durham 
Gore (now Alton), and parts of Gilmanton, Wakefield, and 
Wolfeborough. The boundaries of the tract were as follows : — 

"Beginning at the southeasterly corner of Barnstead, and from 
thence to run the same course as Barnstead's easterly side-line 
runs to Winmpisioky Pond ; from thence upon a right angle till 
it comes to the boundary-line between our said province of New 
Hampshire and that which was formerly called the province of 
Maine ; from thence on the same boundary-line runneth to the 
northeasterly corner of the town of Rochester; from thence by 
Rochester and Barrington head-lines to the bounds first men- 
tioned." 

The sixty proprietors to whom the town was granted were 
Eleazer Russell, Nathaniel Rogers, Matthew Livermore, Thomas 
Peirce, William Parker, Benjamin Wahon, Samuel Hart, Joseph 
Molton, John Cut, Thomas Wright, John Ayers, Solomon Cotton, 
Daniel Jackson, Jr., Samuel Sherburne, merchant, Henry Sher- 
burne, Jr., ditto, William King, John Sherburne of Little Harbor, 
Joseph Sherburne, son of Joseph Sherburne, Esq., Nathaniel Men- 
dum, George Rogers, Joseph Whipple, John Ross, Charles Frost, 
N. Castle, John Shackford, Jr., John Wood, William Frost, Ben- 
jamin Miller, Daniel Moulton, Benjamin Gambling, John Pray, 
Solomon Pike, Nicholas Whidden, John Fellows, Thomas West- 
brook, Daniel Rogers, Samuel Sherburn, Innholder, Elliot 
Vaughan, Peter Grely, Ichabod Plaisted, Thomas Newmard, John 
Kennard, Henry Sherburne, Jr., of the Plains , John Dennet, son 
of Ephraim Dennet, Esq., Moses Dennet, Joseph Langdon, 
Samuel White, George Pierce, Joseph Jackson, Moses Noble, 
Sharach Walton, Esq. , George Jaffrey, Esq. , Ephraim Dennet, 
Esq. , Joshua Pierce, Esq. , Joseph Sherburn, Esq. , Jotham Odi- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 17 

orne, Esq., Henry Sherburne, Esq., Richard Waldron, Esq., 
Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 

By the conditions of the grant the proprietors were each to 
build a dwelHng-house, and settle a family in the town within five 
years. They were also to build a meeting-house within the same 
time, and settle an orthodox minister within seven years. Should 
wars occur, the time for doing these things was to be extended. 
They were to reserve three hundred acres of land for the first 
ordained minister that should settle in the town, a Hke quantity 
for the second, six hundred acres for parsonages, and three hun- 
dred acres for schools. The proprietors were to pay the govern- 
ment an annual quit-rent of ten pounds of hemp, if demanded, 
and reserve for it all mast trees. The committee designated by 
the governor to call the first meeting consisted of Nathaniel 
Rogers, Eleazer Russell, and Matthew Livermore. Rogers was 
chosen moderator, and Livermore, proprietors' clerk. 

At subsequent meetings a tax to meet current expenses was 
assessed. John Fellows was appointed tax-collector, and Henry 
Sherburne, Esq., treasurer. The committee that called the first 
meeting was authorized to make surveys and secure settlers. 
Subsequently, Sherburne, Livermore, and Richard Waldron were 
appointed a committee to make arrangements for settling the 
town by giving to sixty persons each a lot not to exceed three 
hundred acres of land. They were also to lay out three lots of 
the same size, — one for the first minister, one for a parsonage in 
the district first settled, and one for a school in the same district. 
Each proprietor was also to have a similar lot. The settlements 
were to be located in the southern part of the grant. It is not 
known that any effective measures were adopted to secure the 
contemplated object. The scheme proved a failure, and in 1739, 
when Governor Belcher was removed, the charter was annulled. 
It is possible that a few persons located in the southern part of 
the grant and remained until New Durham was organized, as a 
road had been cut from Dover to Lake Winnipesaukee in 1722, 



l8 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and the town of New Durham, in 1767, had a population of one 
hundred and fifty-seven persons, while Wolfeborough at the same 
time had not a single inhabitant. 

Kingswood, although perhaps only a paper town, had a name 
which has proved transferable, and is, therefore, entitled to con- 
sideration. 

At a meeting of the twenty-four town proprietors, held at the 
house of John Stavers, in Portsmouth, on the fourteenth day of 
November, 1759, at which Daniel Pierce was appointed mod- 
erator, and David Sewall, clerk, it was voted "that the township, 
in honor of the late renowned and illustrious General Wolf, de- 
ceased, be called Wolf- Borough." 

It will be observed that the orthographic error in Wolfe's name 
was transcribed to that of the town. It was retained in the char- 
ter granted in 1770, and continued in general use for nearly a 
century. This method of spelling the name of the town has some- 
times led to the conjecture that it might have originated from the 
numerous haunts of that cowardly marauder then roaming in the 
forests — the American wolf. The foregoing record, however, 
shows that the town was named in honor of the heroic English 
general, James Wolfe, who, on Sept. 13, 1759, at the age of thirty- 
three years, fell at the head of a victorious army on the Plains of 
Abraham, Quebec, while engaged in a battle with the French. 
Wolfe had previously associated with the New Hampshire soldiery 
in military expeditions on the eastern coast of the country, and 
was a very popular officer. 

Wolfeborough is an uncommon name for localities. There is 
one town in England, one in the state of South CaroHna, and one 
in the state of New Hampshire that bears the name. A neighbor- 
hood in the town of Stetson, Maine, in which a considerable num- 
ber of Wolfeborough people settled about sixty years ago, is called 
the "Wolfeborough Settlement." 

At this same meeting of the proprietors Daniel Rindge, George 
Meserve, and A. R. Cutter were appointed a committee to procure 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



19 



a survey and division of the township into four parts. A tax was 
assessed for the purpose of defraying the cost of surveying and 
other current expenses. The survey and division were made by 
Walter Bryant, Jr., who constructed a camp for shelter near the 
present site of the South Wolfeborough woolen manufactury. 
On account of delays he did not complete the work until 1762. 
The grantors drew the northern quarter of the township, which 
was the least valuable division. This was afterwards known as 
the "Lords' Quarter" — a term which has, however, been gen- 
erally confined to the southerly portion of the division lying near 
the center of the town. This particular locality was comparatively 
early settled, and tolerably populous for a farming district. Some 
other portions of the "Quarter" have always been very thinly in- 
habited ; much of it is still pasturage or woodland. In April, 
1762, Paul March, John Wentworth, and A. R. Cutter were ap- 
pointed a committee to settle five families in the township; and 
were authorized to grant to the same a tract of land not exceeding 
one thousand acres, and to pay each settler a sum not exceeding 
two hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor. 

January 19, 1764, the committee on settlements was authorized 
to settle seven additional families, "provided that the expense of 
settling the seven families did not exceed fourteen hundred 
pounds, old tenor." On the seventeenth of the October follow- 
ing, the same committee, increased by the addition of Daniel 
Pierce, was instructed to make a road in said township. 

In March, 1764, this committee was directed to grant one ad- 
ditional thousand acres of land to encourage settlements. The 
following May it was instructed to publish in the newspapers 
notices of the favorable terms which were being offered to settlers 
in the town of Wolfeborough, and also to procure a survey for a 
road. This road was "spotted" by John McDuffee, and "cut" by 
Josiah Miles the same season. The next year Miles bridged the 
few smaller streams over which the road passed, not including 
Smith's River. This road commenced opposite the cove in Lake 



20 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Winnipesaukee, about one mile west of New Durham line, and 
extended to the western boundary of Wolfeborough, being, with 
alterations and extensions made in 1779, the main thoroughfare 
from Tuftonborough to New Durham through the villages of 
Wolfeborough and South Wolfeborough, now known as North 
Main Street and South Main Street. It was for many years called 
the "Miles Road." The portion opened by Miles was about five 
miles in length. 

Thus far the eflforts of the proprietors of Wolfeborough to se- 
sure settlers in the township had been of no avail. They now 
granted full discretionary power to the committee on settlements, 
and voted additional sums of money for accomplishing their ob- 
ject. Still their lands remained unoccupied. The difificulty in 
obtaining settlers arose from the fact that in New Hampshire 
there was more land offered for occupancy than there were per- 
sons to occupy it. While the controversy between this and the 
neighboring province of Massachusetts in relation to their 
boundaries continued, the governor of the latter granted large 
tracts of land in the disputed territory to persons and organiza- 
tions. When, in 1741, Benning Wentworth was appointed gov- 
ernor of New Hampshire, he evinced an equal readiness to char- 
ter townships, and thereby largely increased his wealth by ques- 
tionable business methods — so charged his enemies. In 1746 the 
Masonian Proprietors purchased Mason's right, and being de- 
sirous to realize from the bargain, ofifered their lands on what 
seemed advantageous conditions to township proprietors ; but 
for reasons already named, these sometimes had more perplexi- 
ties than profits from their ventures. 

As the town proprietors of Wolfeborough held their lands on 
certain conditions pledged to the Masonian Proprietors, which 
had not as yet been fully complied with, it became necessary to 
adopt some measures that would prove more effective in secur- 
ing settlers. Therefore, in order that each proprietor might have 
a direct personal responsibility in the matter, they, in October, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 21 

1765, voted to divide the three-quarters of the township, which 
they had hitherto held in common, into twenty-four shares of 
equal value. Before the division took place, however, they voted 
to reserve one hundred acres of land around the falls on Smith's 
River for a mill privilege, and a tract of one thousand and fifty 
acres in the southern part of the town for Elisha Bryant and 
others, who proposed to become settlers. 

It is said that Bryant and three sturdy sons afterwards came to 
the place, and using the camp formerly occupied by Walter 
Bryant, the surveyor, as a dwelling, commenced felling trees. 
They, however, remained only a short time. The elder Bryant, 
having a relish for strong drinks, complained that the pure stream 
of water which flowed near his temporary abode furnished an un- 
palatable beverage. The tract of land assigned to him was in- 
tended for seven families. It afterward reverted to the proprie- 
tors. 

A contract was made with Paul March to procure a survey of 
the lots for twenty pounds, lawful money. Walter Bryant, Jr., 
immediately commenced the work, and completed it the same 
season. 

On the nineteenth of February, 1766, the proprietors met at the 
inn of Captain Zachariah Foss, in Portsmouth, for the purpose 
of drawing their respective lots of land. It appears that after the 
twenty-four lots had been laid out, there remained a tract of land 
bordering on Tuftonborough, and extending from Winnipesaukee 
Lake to the "Lords' Quarter." It was three hundred and two 
rods wide at the easterly end, one hundred and eighty-six at the 
westerly, and comprised seventeen hundred and fifty acres. Of 
this tract Daniel Pierce, by agreement, took as his share one 
thousand acres, and relinquished all his other rights as a grantor 
and grantee. This lot was for many years known as the "Great 
Lot," and a small portion of it remained in the possession of the 
Pierce family until about 1840. By the exchange here noticed. 



22 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



lots numbered eleven and fifteen in the grantors' quarter came 
into the possession of the grantees. 

The remaining seven hundred and fifty acres of this tract, to- 
gether with lots numbered twenty-two and twenty-three, were 
granted to Paul March on condition that he should waive all 
other claim to a right as a grantee and settle nine families thereon 
by the first day of the following October. This tract, which em- 
braced about nineteen hundred acres, extended from Tufton- 
borough line to what is now Friend Street. Here were made the 
first permanent settlements in Wolfeborough, but not at so early 
a date as that agreed on by March. Some subsequent proceed- 
ings of the proprietors would indicate that a portion of this tract 
came again into their possession. 

Having completed arrangements with Pierce and March, and 
thereby disposed of lots numbered twenty-two and twenty-three, 
there remained twenty-two lots to be drawn by twenty-two pro- 
prietors. Two lads, one of whom was Henry, son of Captain 
Henry Rust, officiated at the drawing. This was the result : — 

Lot No. I of 640 acres was drawn by Jotham Rindge. 



18 " 600 






( a 


John Rindge. 


7 " 642 






i a 


John Wentworth. 


4 " 560 






( << 


John Long. 


19 " 560 






( a 


Nathaniel P. Sargent. 


24 " 600 






I (( 


John Parker. 


15 " 600 






1 ti 


Henry Rust. 


13 " 480 






( (( 


George King. 


12 " 550 






< <( 


Thomas Wentworth. 


8 " 648 






( a 


Daniel Rindge. 


9 " 642 






( ii 


Henry Apthorp. 


14 " 480 






( (< 


Daniel Treadwell. 


17 " 600 






< (< 


Robert Odiorne. 


20 " 710 






( <( 


William E. Treadwell 


2 " 600 






< << 


WilHam Parker, Jr. 


II " 550 






( (< 


Joshua Brackett. 





i6 " 440 




3 " 550 




10 " 648 




5 " 648 




6 " 648 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 23 

Lot No. 21 of 650 acres was drawn by George Meserve. 

" " David Sewall. 
" " Thomas Darling. 
" " Samuel Mofifatt. 
" " Isaac Rindge. 
" " A. R. Cutter. 

The lots were appraised of equal value. They averaged about 
six hundred acres each, but varied considerably in extent — the 
largest, which included within its limits what is now Pine Hill 
cemetery, containing seven hundred and ten acres, and the 
smallest, within whose boundaries is now situated an im- 
portant part ot the Bridge village, four hundred and forty acres. 
Lots near the Miles Road appear to have had the greatest 
acre value. They were those numbered thirteen, fourteen, and 
sixteen. Lots numbered twenty-two and twenty-three, located 
on the same road, had already gone into the possession of March. 
Land in the southwestern part of the township was appraised a 
little higher per acre than that in the northeastern, probably on 
account of its proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee, and conse- 
quently, to the road leading from Merry Meeting Bay to Dover ; 
thereby rendering access to the settled portions of the province 
less difficult, and the land more available for early settlement. 
The water privilege on Smith River would also have a tendency 
to increase the value of land near its locality. It is evident that 
these lands were at first the most highly prized in the town, as they 
were the earliest settled. The entree of Governor Wentworth on 
his domain in the east side of the town, however, brought a 
prestige to that section that counterbalanced the natural ad- 
vantages on the west side. 

It was required in the grant from the Masonian Proprietors that 
their division of the township should be surveyed, and subdivided 
among them at the expense of the grantees. According to ar- 
rangement their reservation was divided into eighteen shares, 
which were drawn bv lot as follows : — 



24 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Lot No. 9 for the Ministry. 





17 




John Wentworth. 




15 




Joshua Peirce. 




12 




George Jaffrey. 




6 




Thomas Packer. 




14 




John Moffatt. 




II 




D. Peirce and M. Moore. 




2 




Mark H. Wentworth. 




4 




Thomas Walhngford. 




18 




The First Minister. 




7 




John Rindge'. 




3 




Solly & March. 




8 




Meserve, Blanchard & Co 




5 




Tomlinson & Mason. 




3 




Richard Wibird. 




16 




Jotham Odiorne. 




I 




The School. 




10 




Theodore Atkinson. 



These lots, with the exception of that numbered one, averaged 
about three hundred acres each. This contained four hundred 
and fifty. 

Four additions have been made to the area of Wolfeborough 
since it was chartered. They will now be briefly noticed, and in 
subsequent pages more fully considered. Descriptive boundries 
of the original township, its additions, and subdivisions will also 
be given, and such allusions made to them as will render it com- 
paratively easy to determine localities. This will, of course, im- 
pliedly lead to the anticipation of some historic events. 

The boundary of the original township of Wolfeboro begins near 
the southeast corner of the farm occupied by Charles F. Chase, 
and runs northeastly on a line west of the Neil Gate farm and 
east of the Martin farm, until it reaches a point near the dwelling 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



25 



formerly occupied by John W. Cotton. It then turns toward 
the northwest, and passing a little east of the Joseph Jenness 
house, and between the farms once owned by Stephen Nute 
and Nicholas Nute, reaches Dimon's Corner, and so on by the 
road leading from that place to Water Village, past the farm of 
Joseph H. Bickford, where, there being a curve in the road, it 
goes through a meadow, and reaches Tuftonborough near the 
foot of the Goldsmith hill. Here it turns towards the southwest, 
and runs for a short distance on the road leading from 
Water Village to Wolfeborough Falls, then near the northern 
shore of Beech Pond, and farther on, by the house of Charles 
Bassett, until it reaches Lake Winnipesaukee at the southwesterly 
corner of the John Fullerton farm. Then, turning again to the 
left, it follows the lake shore and Alton line until it reaches the 
starting point. 

The additions which have been made to the territory of Wolfe- 
borough have modified its exterior lines. Its present southeast 
corner is near Mount Long Stack, from which the northeast Hne 
extends about one mile to the corner of the original township 
near the farm of Charles F. Chase, and continues in the same 
direction, until it approaches the village of North Wakefield, 
where, at a point distant one mile and seventy rods from the 
northeast corner of the original township of Wolfeborough, it 
turns to the left, and runs in the direction of the road leading to 
Ossipee Corner eleven hundred and ninety rods. There, turn- 
ing to the left, it runs eighty-three rods towards Wolfeborough, 
where it turns to the right and runs on the north side of Trask 
and Batson Mountains about one and three-quarters miles. At 
that point turning again to the left, it runs directly to Wolfe- 
borough line. There is another change in the town line where it 
reaches the farm formerly owned by Benjamin Wiggin, situated 
in the westerly corner of the town. Here it turns somewhat to the 
west as it approaches Lake Winnipesaukee. From the lake shore 



26 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

it runs directly to Alton near the foot of Dug Hill, including with- 
in its line the four principal islands that lie in Wolfeborough har- 
bor. The length of an air line from Tuftonborough to Alton is 
about seven miles ; the sinuous shore-line, which fronts every 
point of the compass, is nearly twice as long. 

In the town proprietors' allotment of land in Wolfeborough, 
lots numbering from one to ten, a double row one and one-half 
miles long and two hundred and fifty rods wide, were situated in 
the north-eastern part of the town, and, as a group, were bounded 
by the Lords' Quarter, the Addition, Brookfield, and Lake Went- 
worth. 

Lot numbered one, drawn by Jotham Rindge, bordered on 
Brookfield, Lake Wentworth, and lots two and six, and included 
within its limits Martin's Hill and Mount Delight. Lot num- 
bered two, drawn by William Parker, Jr., was bounded by lots 
one, three, seven, and Lake Wentworth. It included land now 
occupied by Thomas L. Whitton and others. Lot three, drawn 
by Thomas Darling, was bounded by lots two, four, eight, and 
Lake Wentworth. On this probably stood the Governor's house. 
Lot four, drawn by John Long, was bounded by lots three, five, 
nine, and Lake Wentworth. It included portions of the meadow 
lands. Lot five was bounded by lots four, ten, eighteen, and the 
Lords' Quarter. It was drawn by Isaac Rindge, who erected a 
house on it known as the "Rindge House." It stood where now 
stands that owned by Harry Smith. Lot numbered six, drawn 
by A. R. Cutter, situated in the east corner of the three-quarters, 
was bounded by lots one and seven, the Addition, and Brook- 
field. Cotton Mountain, within its limits, was at first called Cut- 
ter's Mountain. 

Lot seven, drawn by Governor Wentworth, was bounded by 
lots two, six, eight, and the Addition. The farm of Timothy Y. 
Cotton is within its limits. Lot eight, drawn by Daniel Rindge, 
was bounded by lots three, seven, nine, and the Addition. Within 
its limits is the farm occupied by Cyrus Jenness. Lot numbered 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 27 

nine, drawn by Henry Apthorp, was bounded by lots four, eight, 
ten, and the Addition, and included Frost's meadow. Lot ten, 
drawn by Samuel Moffatt, was bounded by lots five and nine, the 
Addition, and the Lords' Quarter. It probably included the Wil- 
mot Bickford farm. Lot numbered eleven, drawn by Joshua 
Brackett, extended from the Bryant Reservation to the Sands, a 
distance of two miles on the headlines of New Durham and Brook- 
field. Its opposite boundary was, for a distance of four hundred 
and forty-two rods, on lot numbered twelve, and then on the 
shore of Lake Wentworth. The hamlet called Brackett's Cor- 
ner is within its limits. Lot numbered twelve, drawn by Thomas 
Wentworth, was bounded by lots eleven and thirteen, the Bryant 
Reservation, and Lake Wentworth. Within its boundaries is the 
farm of John T. Furber. 

Lot thirteen, drawn by George King, was bounded by lots 
twelve, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and Lake Wentworth. 
It embraced the home farms of the Brewsters. On it was the ele- 
vation called King's Hill. Lot fourteen, drawn by Daniel Tread- 
well, was bounded by lots thirteen, fifteen, sixteen, and Lake 
Winnipesaukee. Within its limits stands the old Hart house 
now occupied by Mrs. George W. Furber. Lot numbered fifteen 
was a part of the Bryant Reservation, and included the Rust and 
Parker farms, most of Rust's Pond and South Wolfeborough vil- 
lage. It was, by agreement, assigned to Henry Rust. Lot six- 
teen, drawn by David Sewall, was situated on both sides of Smith 
River, and embraced much of the territory on which now stands 
Smith's Bridge village. Within its limits was Sewall's Point. 

Lot seventeen was drawn by Robert Odiorne, but soon went 
into the possession of William Torrey. This lot was four hun- 
dred rods long and two hundred and eighty rods wide, embracing 
within its limits the entire mill-lot of one hundred acres, the re- 
maining portion of the village of Wolfeborough Falls, Crooked 
Pond, and the outlet of Lake Wentworth. Lot eighteen, drawn by 
John Rindge, was bounded by lots five, seventeen, nineteen, 



28 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

twenty, the Lords' Quarter, and Lake Wentworth. Included 
within its boundaries, was the large tract of woodland formerly 
owned by George W. Hersey, 

Lot numbered nineteen, drawn by Nathaniel P. Sargeant, was 
bounded by lots eighteen, twenty, twenty-one, the Great Lot, and 
the Lords' Quarter. Within its limits is Lily (formerly Sar- 
geant's) Pond. Lot twenty was bounded by lots seventeen, nine- 
teen, twenty-one, and twenty-two, and included the Avery woods. 
It was drawn by William Earle Treadwell, but subsequently be- 
came the property of George Meserve. Lot twenty-one was 
drawn by George Meserve. It lay northwest of lot twenty, and 
probably included within its limits the site of Pine Hill school- 
house. It was bounded by lots nineteen, twenty, twenty-three, 
and the Great Lot. Lots twenty-two and twenty-three lay be- 
tween lots twenty and twenty-one, and Lake Winnipesaukee. 
They were conditionally relinquished to Paul March. Lot twenty- 
four embraced Wolfeborough Neck, and was assigned to John 
Parker. At first the Neck was allotted to Henry Rust and John 
Parker, as, before measurement, it was supposed to contain land 
sufficient for two lots. It was, however, afterwards ascertained 
that its superficies equalled only five hundred and forty-seven 
acres. This tract was, therefore, given to Parker for his share, 
and Rust received six hundred acres of the Bryant Reservation. 

The first row of lots in the Lords' Quarter, numbering from 
one to six, bordered on a range-road extending from Dimon's 
Corner to Frank B. Home's farm. The most southern lot con- 
tained four hundred and fifty acres. It was numbered one, and 
appropriated for schools. The other seventeen averaged three 
hundred acres each. Lot number two was situated northeast of 
lot one. On it is the farm of Charles C. Thompson. It was 
drawn by Mark H. Wentworth. Lot three was drawn by Richard 
Wibird. On it stands the dwelling of Sylvester Twombly. Lot 
numbered fourwas drawn by Thomas Wallingford. Here is Charles 
H. Bennett's farm. Lot five, on which is the house of Walter 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 29 

Sherburne, was drawn by Tomlinson and Mason. Lot numbered 
six was drawn by Thomas Packer. The Haines family have been 
occupants of it from the early settlement of the town. Parallel 
to this range of lots are two others. The middle range has the 
odd numbers, and the northwestern range the even. 

The middle row of lots has had but few inhabitants. On lot 
numbered seven, which was drawn by Solly & March, is a por- 
tion of Samuel B. Sawyer's farm. Lot fifteen was drawn by 
Joshua Pierce. It embraces a portion of the Jacob Home farm. 
Lots eleven and fifteen, by an arrangement with Daniel Pierce, 
came into the possession of the grantees of Wolfeborough. Lot 
seventeen was drawn by John Wentworth. The Nathan Weeks 
place was within its limits. 

The northwestern tier of lots bordered on Tuftonborough. Lot 
numbered eight was drawn by Meserve, Blanchard & Co., and 
included the John L. Goldsmith farm. Lot ten was drawn by 
Theodore Atkinson, and was distant one hundred and seventy- 
five rods from the Ossipee town line at the foot of Goldsmith 
Hill. Lot numbered twelve was bounded by lots ten, eleven, 
fourteen, and Tuftonborough. It was drawn by George Jafifrey, 
and was one hundred and eighty-five rods wide. Lot fourteen 
was of the same width, and was bounded by lots twelve, thirteen, 
and sixteen, and Tuftonborough. It was drawn by John Moffatt. 
Lot numbered sixteen was drawn by John Odiorne. and included 
within its limits a portion of Beech Pond. Lot numbered eighteen 
extended to the Great Lot, and included within its limits the site 
of Elijah Home's last dwelling. It fell to the first minister. 

In the Addition, which became a part of Wolfeborough in 1800, 
lot numbered one, owned by Jonathan Warner, had an extent of 
nearly nine hundred acres of land, and was bounded by Brook- 
field, Ossipee, lots six and seven in the original township of 
Wolfeborough and lot two in the Addition. Lot two was bounded 
by lots one and three in the Addition, lots eight and nine in the 
old town, and Ossipee. It probably included within its limits 



30 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



the Brown Tavern, for many years a noted hostelry. It was 
owned by James Stoodley. Lot three was bounded by lots two 
and four in the Addition, nine and ten in the old town, the Lords' 
Quarter, and Ossipee. It was owned by Dr. Hall Jackson. 
Lots one, two, and three were of the same size. Lot four was 
bounded by three and five in the Addition, the Lords' Quarter, 
and Ossipee. It was owned by Stephen Batson, and included 
the mountain and pond which now bear his name. Lots four and 
five each contained four hundred acres. There are about thirty- 
five hundred acres of land in the Addition, but being mountainous, 
it was estimated at the time of its annexation to Wolfeborough 
to contain less than three thousand acres. 

That portion of Wolfeborough that came into the possession 
of the town proprietors was at first divided into twenty-four lots. 
Two of them were conveyed to Paul March for purposes of settle- 
ment, reducing the number to twenty-two. The Masonian Pro- 
prietors' Quarter was divided into eighteen lots, and the Addition 
contained five. Thus there were in the town forty-seven divisions 
of land, — one series of lots being numbered from one to twenty- 
two; another, from one to eighteen; and a third, from one to 
five. There were, therefore, in each series, lots numbering from 
one to five, a circumstance which has occasioned some per- 
plexities in transfering land. 



View FRi 




I'S HILL 




PANORAMIC vr 





JROUGH BAY 



CHAPTER III. 

Topography — Bays of Wolfeborough Harbor — Smith's Pond 
AND River — Lake Wentworth and its Islands — Its 
Meadows, Beaches, and Tributary Streams — Crooked 
Pond — Loon Island — Scenic Views from the lake — 
Tumble-Down Dick — Copple Crown — Longstack — 
Belknap — Ossipee — Presidential Ranges — Neighbor- 
ing Foot-hills — Rust's Pond — Perry's Brook — Mirror 
Lake — Beach, Lily, and Batson's Ponds — Meserve and 
Factory Brooks — Center Square, Stockbridge, Batson, 
Trask,Whiteface, and Cotton Mountains — The Val- 
ley Road — Minerals — Products — Indian Relics. 

IN the foregoing pages it has been the purpose to show where 
Wolfeborough is — to tell of its boundaries, its additions, and 
its subdivisions ; in those which immediately follow it will be the 
endeavor to show what it is — to describe somewhat its mountains, 
hills, plains, valleys, and islands ; its lakes, ponds, and streams. 
Within the territory of Wolfeborough are included several 
bays, that set in from Lake Winnipesaukee. The most important 
of these is that which lies south of the principal village. It has 
an area of about five hundred acres, and is partially shut in from 
the broad of the lake by islands, which renders it a very safe har- 
bor. Farther inland is a smaller bay that extends to the foot 
of the falls on Smith's River. The two are connected by a narrow 
strait, which is a continuation of Smith's River. Another bay 
sets in towards South Wolfeborough village, and still an- 
other towards Wolfeborough Neck. A large bay, formed 
by the projections of the two peninsulas, Wolfeborough Neck 
and Tuftonborough Neck, lies partly within the town. The por- 
tion of this bay within the limits of Wolfeborough is called 
"Winter Harbor." It was so named because a loaded boat, 

31 



32 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



destined for Moultonborough, was forced to seek shelter here, 
was frozen in, and remained during the winter. 

In the south central part of the town lies a body of water nearly 
four miles long and three miles wide, formerly known as Smith's 
Pond, but now called Lake Wentworth. Smith's River, which 
connects Smith's Pond with Lake Winnipesaukee, and Smith's 
Bridge, the part of Wolfeborough village situated near the out- 
let of Smith's River, derive their names from the same source, 
and are supposed to have been thus called from an EngHsh hun- 
ter named Smith, who visited this region. Nothing is now known 
of his history. The story may be wholly legendary. It is, how- 
ever, certain that the town proprietors applied the name "Smith" 
to the pond and the river before there were any inhabitants in 
the town. Still it has been deemed proper to change the name 
of the pond, or lake, to that of the town's most distingH.tished 
early patron, who was at one time the possessor of a large por- 
tion of its shore-line. 

The lake is somewhat oval in shape and has an area of 3094 
acres. It has twenty islands, the most important of which are 
situated in the central part of the lake. The largest was called 
Mill Island by the proprietors of the town, probably because 
it was granted to the builders of the first mills. Subsequently, 
it received the name of Stamp Act, which it still retains. Why 
it was thus called is not known. The town proprietors first 
granted the land with other property to George Meserve as a 
consideration for his building mills at the falls on Smith's River 
within a definite time. He did not fully comply with the con- 
ditions of the agreement, and the island reverted to the original 
owners. In 1765, Meserve was appointed distributor of stamps 
for New Hampshire, but the hostility of the people to the odious 
Stamp Act was so great that he immediately resigned the ofhce 
on arriving at the province. It is difficult to see how this afifair 
should have had anything to do with the name of the island. 
The name not being euphonic, and to the present generation 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



33 



apparently meaningless, should be changed. Perhaps it would 
not be amiss to restore the original name. 

The island was covered with the usual forest trees, some of 
them lofty pines. Here, from the recollection of the oldest in- 
habitant until a recent date, when the trees were felled, was a 
heronry. The area of the island is ninety acres. At its east end 
is a point of land called East Cape ; south of this is a sandy recess 
in the shore named Big Cove. 

North of Stamp Act Island and nearer the shore of the lake, 
is Triggs's Island, containing twenty acres of land. It takes 
its name from Thomas Triggs, its original owner, in the posses- 
sion of whose family it remained until the decease of its last 
member, which occurred a few years since. 

Farther east, and north of Stamp Act, is the Mink group, con- 
sisting of three islands, the largest of which contains three acres 
of land. West of Stamp Act, is a cluster of seven islands called 
"The Sisters." The largest one contains five acres and the next 
in size, three ; the others are small. Most of this group are 
occupied in the summer by cottagers. Near the easterly shore of 
the lake is Turtle Island, the area of which is about three acres. 
A causeway from it to the mainland is partially built. This is 
supposed to have been constructed by Governor Wentworth. 
About a half-mile from the southerly shore of the lake is an 
island-rock, about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, called the 
Governor's Rock, or Tea Rock. Near the west shore of the 
lake is another similar rock, named Gull Rock, where a gull 
was formerly accustomed to breed its young. Near the north- 
western shore of the lake is a small island known as Goose 
Island. Between Stamp Act and the southern shore of the lake 
are two islands. One of them, containing about one acre of land, 
was formerly called Townsend's Island. It is now known as 
Bass Island. The other, situated east of this, is smaller, and has 
no name. 

South of Stamp Act are several huge boulders, which, lying 



24 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

on a sandy bottom, rise above the surface of the water. Near 
these a very fine echo may be heard. The shores of the lake are 
generally low. There are several beautiful beaches and excellent 
natural meadows. Several of the latter border the streams that 
flow into the lake. They were utilized somewhat in the early 
settlement of the town, before the forests were cleared, for fur- 
nishing hay. The principal meadows are on the northeastern 
and southwestern shores of the lake. From Moose Point on the 
western shore, a sand beach extends for several miles. Near the 
outlet of the Warren Brook, east of the lake, is a large deposit 
of alluvium known as the "Sands." A little north of this is the 
only point where land much elevated borders the lake. Here, 
Mount Delight reaches the shore, and near here, is the greatest 
depth of water in the lake, which is generally shoal. Farther on, 
toward the south, are Townsend's Sands, Oak BlufT, Rocky 
Point, Point Breeze, Profile Rock, and Gate's Sands. 

Ten streams flow into the lake. They are the Harvey, Hersey, 
Fernald, Clay Pit, Rye Field, Warren, Townsend, Red, and Heath 
Brooks, and Willey's Mill Stream. Harvey Brook flows from the 
west. Some seventy years ago, William Kent built on it a saw- 
mill, which was afterwards removed to the upper falls on Smith's 
River. The brook now furnishes motive power for the ma- 
chinery of a carpenter's shop. It rises in meadow-land formerly 
belonging to George Meserve, one of the original town pro- 
prietors ; hence probably came its name, as, in olden times, Har- 
vey and Meserve were names sometimes used interchangeably. A 
little north of Harvey, is Hersey Brook, the outlet of Lily (for- 
merly Sargeant's) Pond. It has a course of two miles, with a 
descent of about one hundred feet. Nearly a century ago there 
was a grist-mill on it, owned by John Lucas. This was situated 
near the present highway. About 1820 William Kent and James 
Hersey erected a sawmill farther up the stream. This was after- 
ward rebuilt by George W. Hersey. None of these mills are now 
standing. Still farther north, is Fernald's, in early times called 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



35 



Rattle Snake Brook. There were once on it a tannery and a 
shingle-mill. 

Northeast of this, is the most important stream that flows into 
Lake Wentworth. It is formed by the confluence of the outlet of 
Batson's Pond, the Seavey Brook and other small streams. For- 
merly its water was used as motive power at several different 
localities ; now it only turns the machinery at V. B. Willey's saw- 
mill. It is called Willey's Mill Stream. On this stream were 
once a tannery and brick-yard on the road from North Wolfe- 
borough to Water Village, a sawmill and a grist-mill on that now 
leading from Wolfeborough Center to Ossipee, and a small tur- 
ner's shop on the road from Center Wolfeborough to North 
Wolfeborough. 

Farther east is Clay Pit Brook, so called because clay has been 
dug from its borders. It runs through a large meadow, and in 
early times, a small grist-mill stood on its banks. Still farther 
east, is Rye Field Brook, one branch of which has its rise in Cot- 
ton Mountain. On its banks may still be seen evidences of the 
existence of a sawmill, which is supposed to have been built by 
Governor Wentworth. At the "Sands" flows in the Warren Brook, 
which has its source in Brookfield, and flows through extensive 
meadows. It bears the name of a family once living on its banks, 
in which were reared to adult age twenty-one children. Farther 
south is Townsend Brook, so called on account of its flowing 
through the farm formerly owned by Isaac Townsend, the first 
minister ordained in Wolfeborough. Still farther south is an- 
other small stream, called Red Brook. Its waters are colored 
either by absorption from the roots of shrubs growing in it, or by 
percolation through mineralized earth. Next in order is the South 
Branch, or Heath Brook. It has its rise in New Durham, where 
on Its banks was once a grist-mill. It flows sluggishly through 
extensive meadows, its outlet being on the southern shore of Lake 
Wentworth. 

At least thirty square miles of territory are drained by the 



36 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



tributaries of Lake Wentworth. A considerable portion of its 
volume of water is probably furnished by springs hidden in its 
bed. Most of the sources of the streams flowing into it are at 
some distance from its shore; hence there are very seldom sud- 
den overflows of water, and the lake is comparatively free from 
the effects of droughts or freshets. As a reservoir it is remarkably 
uniform in its supply of water. 

The outlet of Lake Wentworth is Smith's River on its western 
shore. For about one-third of a mile this is a narrow stream. It 
then broadens into several irregular shaped bays, and takes the 
name of Crooked Pond. This is about one mile long. It has 
one small island called Loon Island. One of its bays is named 
Porcupine Cove. The river narrows again a little above its fall, 
which is twenty-eight feet, and running about one-fourth of a 
mile, flows into the inner bay that extends to Smith's Bridge. 
Into this bay flow two small streams, one of which is called Var- 
ney's Brook because of its running through the premises of the 
Joseph Varney family. On this many years ago was a small bark- 
mill. The other stream was utilized for some years by Hiram 
Ham, a manufacturer of lumber. 

The scenic views from Lake Wentworth are very attractive. 
Toward the southeast lies Pleasant Valley, its acclivities gradually 
rising towards Mount Dick in Brookfield and the towering Copple 
Crown in New Durham. A depressed line of hills continues until 
Long Stack, partly in Wolfeborough, is reached, while farther on, 
toward the south, and then toward the west, appear the moun- 
tains of Alton, Gilmanton, and Gilford, including the Belknap 
range with its numerous peaks. Toward the north is seen the 
dark browed Ossipee, more distant, the rugged Chocorua, and 
still farther on, encircled by its lofty neighbors, the hoary head 
of that monarch of New Hampshire mounts — Washington. With- 
in the limits of Wolfeborough, and in a narrower circle, the eye 
of the observer beholds Garland Heights, Center Square, Stock- 




z 
o 

O 



Ql. 

o 
o 



Q 

z 
o 

Q. 



to 



Q 
< 
O 



O 

Q. 

UJ 

I 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



37 



bridge, Beacham, Moody, Batson, Trask, Whiteface, and Cotton 
Mountains, Martin's Hill and Mount Delight. 

Rust's Pond is situated in the southerly part of Wolfeborough. 
The town proprietors named it Middle Pond, it being located be- 
tween Lake Wentworth and Lake Winnipesaukee and not far 
from either of them. (Both the lakes were then termed ponds.) 
Henry Rust, a town proprietor, afterwards came into possession 
of the lot in which the greater part of the pond lies, and it took 
his name. It is of an oval shape, and has an area of perhaps a 
hundred acres. Its principal tributary is Perry's Brook, which takes 
its rise in New Durham and runs through a farm once owned by 
John Perry. A small brook near its northern shore is called 
Deland's Brook. The water of Rust's Pond flows into Lake 
Winnipesaukee by a stream, which in a distance of one-third of 
a mile falls seventy feet, furnishing an excellent mill privilege. 
As the traveler from Wolfeborough village to South Wolfe- 
borough passes over the brow of the Brewster Ridge, there sud- 
denly bursts upon his sight the lakelet, cradled in the little valley 
that extends nearly to the base of the diminutive Pierce mountain 
— a landscape picture of surpassing loveliness. 

Mirror Lake lies mostly within the limits of Tuftonborougji. 
It was first known as Livius's Pond, taking its name from Peter 
Livius, a member of Governor John Wentworth's council. 
Through his agents Livius commenced farming operations on the 
western shore of the pond. There he dug a channel, by which he 
purposed to drain the pond, and convert it into a grass meadow. 
This channel still exists. He erected a house, the cellar of which 
can still be seen, and employed a large number of laborers under 
an overseer who is said to have had a seat on the top of a stump 
twenty feet high, where he could overlook his gang of workmen. 
The scheme for an artificial meadow proved a failure, either be- 
cause of the unsuitable character of the soil, or Livius's enforced 
departure from the province of New Hampshire. Being a royalist, 
he retired to Canada, where he obtained a government office. In 



38 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



the dark days of the Revoluntionary War he wrote to General 
Sullivan and vainly sought to induce him to abandon the American 
cause. The name Livius was contracted to Levis, and by that 
name the pond was known until a family named Lang settled on 
its eastern shore. It then took the name of that family, and re- 
tained it until a few years ago, when a post-office was established 
in the vicinity. Since then it has been called Mirror Lake. It is 
a beautiful sheet of water, and its present name is both appropri- 
ate and euphonic and will doubtless be abiding. Tradition says, 
and no doubt speaks truly, that the outlet of the pond was origi- 
nally at the "Narrows." Since the time of Livius the water has 
flowed through the artificial channel. 

Beech Pond, which is supposed to have taken its name from the 
beech forests that formerly grew on its borders — although it is 
not certain that its name did not arise from its fine sand beaches, 
and that it should not have been called Beach Pond — is a superior 
reservoir of very pure water which furnishes an abundant supply 
for Wolfeborough village, distant three and a half miles from it, 
and situated four hundred feet below it. (The exact fall of the 
water to the level of Lake Winnipesaukee is four hundred 
and seventy-five feet.) The pond is evidently fed by springs 
whose fountains are hidden in the lofty hills that border its 
eastern shore, as only one small stream flows into it. Its area is 
three hundred acres. Its surplus water flows through a short 
channel into Lower Beech Pond, and eventually reaches the Saco 
River in Maine. On the western shore of the pond is a natural 
embankment of earth about one hundred rods long and one hun- 
dred feet high. A narrow valley extends to its base, from which 
issues a spring whose water is supposed to possess medicinal prop- 
erties. Many years ago it was a popular resort for invalids. This 
water is supposed to pass through mineralized earth from the pond 
above. The spring is one of the sources of Nineteen Mile Brook 
which empties into Lake Winnipesaukee. If the foregoing hypoth- 
esis is correct, the water of Beech Pond reaches the ocean by 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



39 



two outlets, the Saco River in Maine and the Merrimac in Massa- 
chusetts. There are very few inhabitants dwelling in the neigh- 
borhood of this pond, and the drainage of farm buildings and fre- 
quented highways does not contaminate its water. It is sur- 
rounded by pasture and woodland. 

Lily Pond is situated northwest of Center Square. It is circu- 
lar in form, and has an area of nearly two hundred acres. Border- 
ing on it are some cranberry meadows, but no fine beaches. On 
its muddy bottom grow many aquatic plants, among them a 
profusion of water-lilies, which in their season cover the surface of 
the pond with a mantle of white. Until within a few years this 
body of water was called Sargeant's Pond from the name of the 
town proprietor within the limits of whose lot it lay. Two brooks 
flow into the pond ; the larger, Hill's Brook, from the east ; the 
other, Hyde's Brook, which is quite small, from the north. Its 
outlet is Hersey Brook, a stream about two miles long, which 
flows into Lake Wentworth. 

Batson's Pond, which derives its name from an original pro- 
prietor of the Addition, is situated in the northerly part of the 
town near Ossipee line. It is circular in form, and has an extent 
of about twenty acres. Its water flows southerly for several miles 
and is then discharged into Lake Wentworth. Hidden behind 
Batson's Mountain, and at some distance from a public highway, 
it has probably never been seen by one in twenty of the inhabi- 
tants of Wolfeborough. 

There are two brooks that flow directly into Lake Winnipesau- 
kee. One is a small stream in the westerly part of the town 
known as Meserve Brook. It rises in land formerly owned by 
George Meserve, a town proprietor. The other enters the lake 
near South Wolfeborough village. It is called Rust's Brook. 

The surface of the town of Wolfeborough is generally uneven. 
It has several fine ridges of land with moderately sloping sides. 
Among these may be noticed the two which are near the Bridge 
village, one rising from the level of the lake toward the north and 



40 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the Other toward the south, also the background of Pleasant Val- 
ley in the southeast, a portion of the Governor Wentworth farm 
still farther east, and Garland Heights. Bickford's Ridge, in the 
north, is perhaps as marked as any. It is certainly nearer the 
clouds than the others. Much of the town's surface, however, 
consists of irregular hills, of moderate size, and narrow valleys. 
In the north it is mountainous ; yet the peaks are so low that they 
are generally utilized by the farmers. The most noted elevations 
are those which will now be described. 

Center Square is noticeable only on account of its location, it 
being situated near the center of the original township of Wolfe- 
borough. Stockbridge Mountain, so called from a farmer former- 
ly dwelling at its base, is a solitary peak, mostly denuded of trees, 
situated in the westerly part of the Masonian division of the town. 
It affords a very fine view of the Winnipesaukee lake region. 
East of this mountain is a chain of high hills sometimes termed the 
"Alps of Wolfeborough." It includes Beacham and Moodey 
Mountains, some of whose peaks are twelve hundred feet above 
the ocean. East of this range, is Batson's Mountain with an alti- 
tude of one thousand feet. About one and one-half miles, as the 
bird flies, southeast of Batson's is Trask's Mountain, so named 
from a family that lived on its eastern side. Between these two 
mountains is a deep, narrow valley, through which runs the road 
leading from Wolfeborough to Ossipee. About two miles in an 
easterly direction, Whiteface rears its head to an elevation of 
twelve hundred feet, just equalling the height of Trask's. A 
precipice several hundred feet high on its eastern side gives the 
mountain its name. Trask's and Whiteface, like Batson's, are 
within the limits of the Addition. 

About two miles southeast of Whiteface is Cotton Mountain, 
which is so called from a group of families of that name that have 
for many years dwelt on its sides and in the adjacent valleys. Its 
first name was Cutter's Mountain, it being included within the 
limits of the lot, which in the division of the town fell to Dr. A. R. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



41 



Cutter. The height of this mountain is only fifty feet less than 
that of Whiteface. It is the most southerly of the four distinct ele- 
vations of land about equal in height and nearly equi-distant from 
each other that are situated in an almost direct line on the north- 
east side of Wolfeborough. 

The water which flows down the north side of this mountain 
reaches the ocean by Saco River, that from the east side makes 
its way to the Piscataqua, while that from the west side forms 
a tributary to Lake Wentworth, and eventually arrives at the Mer- 
rimac. Thus the rain, which falls within a circle whose diameter 
is about a half mile, reaches the ocean by three distinct rivers that 
open into it from three different states ; viz., the Saco in Maine, 
the Piscataqua in New Hampshire, and the Merrimac in Massa- 
chusetts. 

The points from which fine landscape views may be obtained 
are numerous in Wolfeborough. Perhaps that from Trask's 
Mountain, the top of which can be easily reached with carriages, 
is of greater extent than any other in the town. Here, in almost 
every direction, rise isolated peaks, or chains of mountains of 
ever-varying contour, while the valleys are diversified with lakes 
and streams, that, glistening in the sunlight, form a striking con- 
trast to the dark shades of the forest-clad hills. In the north, is 
seen the Kearsarge of Bartlett ; in the west, the Kearsarge of 
Warner. Alike in name, they resemble each other in aspect. 
From Mount Dick, situated in Brookfield, a little outside the 
limits of Wolfeborough, can be obtained a bird's-eye view of the 
town and the Winnipesaukee Lake region that furnishes a 
panorama of surpassing loveliness. Copple Crown, eighteen hun- 
dred feet high, although within the limits of New Durham, is yet. 
on account of its proximity to Wolfeborough, a striking feature 
in its scenery . 

Wolfeborough is not rich in minerals. Small quantities of bog- 
iron have been found on the northern shore of Lake Wentworth. 
A chalky earth has been obtained on Stamp Act Island. Crystals 



42 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of quartz and garnets are sometimes found. Coarse granite 
abounds. There are deposits of clay in different localities. A con- 
siderable part of the principal village is built over a substratum 
of this earth. 

The soil of Wolfeborough is varied, but generally fertile, readily 
producing Indian corn, wheat, and other small grains ; grass both 
for hay and pasturage ; also potatoes and such vegetables as are 
adapted to a northern climate in great perfection. Pears do fairly 
well ; apples extraordinarily so. Plums and cherries are with 
difificulty raised, not so much on account of defects in the soil and 
climate as the prevalence of harmful insects. 

The primitive forests of Wolfeborough were diversified. White 
pine prevailed in the central and southwestern portion of the 
town. One locahty is still called "Pine Hill." Hemlock, beech, 
maple, oak, and other hard woods were to be found in all parts 
of the town. Masts cut in the vicinity of Lake Wentworth were 
floated across that body of water and down the upper section of 
Smith's River to a cove situated in Wolfeborough Falls, still 
called "Mast Landing." 

Little is known of the history of the aborigines who made their 
homes on the territory now included within the limits of Wolfe- 
borough and other lake towns. That the shores of Winnipesau- 
kee were to the denizens of the forest a desirable abode or a fre- 
quent resort, is not to be doubted. Here they could easily obtain 
an abundance of peltry and foods. Sometimes, when they had 
been on marauding expeditions to the settlements on the sea- 
coast, they had been pursued to Lake Winnipesaukee. On its 
shores the English built a fort and stationed a garrison of scouts 
to protect the frontier towns. The Indians which dwelt in this 
region are supposed to have been subject to the Penacook tribe, 
whose headquarters were on the Merrimac River, where the city 
of Concord now stands. The chief of the Penacooks governed 
all the tribes on that river and its tributaries. Indian relics, such 
as axes, chisels, and other stone tools, have been found on the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 43 

borders of streams and ponds of Wolfeborough. Many years ago 
a stone hearth and several caches were discovered on the southern 
shore of Lake Wentworth. Within the Hmits of Pine Hill ceme- 
tery there was, when Wolfeborough was first settled, a cleared 
spot of ground called the "Indian Dance." 



CHAPTER IV. 

Notice of Proprietors' Meeting — Form of Contract — Note 
TO JosiAH Miles — March's Contract — Titles to Pro- 
prietors' Lots — Rust's Deed and a Description of His 
Lot — Description of Sundry Lots — George Meserve's 
Contract to erect Mills — Livius' Proposition — Me- 
serve's Failure and the New Contract — Lands for- 
feited BY A FEW Proprietors and re-granted to Gov- 
ernor Wentworth — Blake and Libbey fell Trees — 
Rustic Surgery — Town permanently settled in 1768 
— Earlier Visitors in the Town. 

ALTHOUGH the action of the town proprietors of Wolfe- 
borough in some matters has been already partially de- 
scribed, yet as the proprietary records are not very full or explicit, 
copies of certain documents, fortunately preserved, that may help 
to a better understanding of that action, are here introduced. 

Here follows the warrant for what was probably the second 
proprietary meeting: — 

"Province of To the Proprietors of the Tract of Land 

New Hampshire. called Wolfs Borough. — 

Greeting: 
You are hereby Notified and required to assemble yourselves 
at the dwelling House of Mr. John Stavers, Innholder, in 
Portsmo., on Wenesday, the 3d Day of Sept. next, at Six of the 



^ HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Clock in the afternoon, then and there to receive the Report of 
the Committee employed to Lay out said Tract, if they are ready 
for the same — to examine the Treasurer's ammounts.— To raise 
such Sum or Sums of money as may be found necessary. — To de- 
termine some method relating delinquent Proprietors' taxes.— To 
alter the Name of the said Tract Called Wolfs Borough, if you 
think proper, and to door act on any other matter or Thing relating 
to said Proprietry, as shall by you be thought Proper & needfuU. 

Dated at Portsmouth the 5th Day of August, anno Domini, 1760. 

David Sewall, Prop. Clerk. 
Not't Ten the 6th of August, 1760. 

3 Sept. Do. 4. — Proprietors met & voted that Dan'l Peirce Esqr. 
be moderator for this meeting. Voted this meeting adjourned to 
the 17th of this Instant September at place before mentioned 7 
o'clock afternoon." 

Here is the form of a contract to be made with any settlers : — 

"This Indenture made & Executed by & Between Paul March, John 
Wentworth Jun'r & Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, all of Portsmouth in the 
Province of New Hampr. Gentlemen as a Committee of the Proprietors 
of a Tract of Land in said Province called Wolfborough for this Special 
Purpose Chosen and Appointed at a Meeting of the Proprietors Legally 
assembled Decem'r 8th, 1762, of the one Part & L. M. of Portsmouth 
afores'd y^eoman of the other Part. 

Now this Indenture witnesses That the said Committee in Pursuance of 
their said Trust for Promoting the Settlement of said Tract, In Con- 
sideration of the Covinants herein expressed on the Part of said L. 
M. to be done and perform'd have and hereby Do give, grant, Bargain, 
Sell, Convey and Confirm unto him the said L. M., all the Right, 
Title, Interest, Property & Demand the said Proprietors have unto 

acres of Land within said Town ship being No. in a plan of 

said Township Returnd by Walter Bryant Surveyor with the Prive- 
lidges and appurtenances thereof to have and to hold the said de- 
scribed Premises with the Privelidges thereof to him the said L. M. 
his Heirs & Assigns to his and their use Benefit and Behoof forever 
and the said Committee do covenant Grant and agree to and with the 
said L. M. that within the Term of Three Years they will pay or 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 45 

cause to be paid unto him the said L, M. or his Order the Sum of 

£ old Tenor money of the Province of New Hampr, or other 

money equal thereto. Whereupon the said L. M. Doth on his part 
Covenant Grant & agree to and with the said Comee. their Exer. & 
adminr. that he will within Three years from the Date hereof clear 
up Five acres of Land fit for the Mowing & Plowing and Build a 
House 18 feet Square & will Reside with said Tract of Land called 
Wolf borough for the Term of 15 Years to the true and FaithfuU per- 
formance of which the said Partys have hereunto Interchangeably 
Set their Hands & Seals the Day of, &c." 

The committee on settlements had at some time made arrange- 
ments with Josiah Miles, Elisha Bryant, and others to settle. It 
appears that they had not complied with the terms agreed on, and 
here is a copy of a letter, the purport of which will be readily un- 
derstood. 

"Portsmouth Nov'r nth, 1765. 

Capt. Josiah Miles, Sir — As you have thought fitt to neglect 
fulfilling your agreement with the Proprietors of Wolfeborough 
in Setling a number of families, &c. & have not complied with any 
part thereof we think it necessary to advise you that we look upon 
Said agreement as wholly void & of none Effect & that before you 
pretend to do anything in Setling s'd Township You have a new 
bargain to make with us — for which end it will be highly neces- 
sary you should meet us here as soon as your Conveniency will 
admit. 

We are &c. 

D. P. 
D. R. 
A. R. C. 
J.P." 

In the autumn of 1765, Paul March made a contract with the 
proprietors, of which the following is the copy : 

"Portsmouth, Nov. 11, 1765. 
Whereas Capt. Josiah Miles has forfeited his agreement with 



46 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



the Proprietors of Wolfeborough with Regard to Settleing said 
Township & has not compHed with any part thereof, the same 
necessarily becoming void & of none effect, Therefore we the Sub- 
scribers being a Committee fully impowered to Contract with any 
persons to Settle Said Township do hereby agree with Paul 
March Esqr. that in consideration of his Settleing ten Families 
this fall or Winter on that part of said Township adjoining to 
Tuftonboro' & which we have sat off for that purpose we will 
confirm to each Settler One himdred & fifty acres of Land and to 
s'd March the same Quantity of land — that is 150 Acres — for his 
trouble herein. It is to be understood that each Settler shall have 
by the first day of May next four acres of Land Cleared fenced & 
fit for tilling one half of which to be sowed or planted next Spring 
& by the first day of October next to have a good tenantable 
House built, at least twenty feet Square — or equal thereto — & to 
be there inhabiting on the Spot & there to remain ten years mak- 
ing progressive improvements, or some one else in his or her 
stead. 

Copy, 

D. Pierce 
Dan'l Rindge 
A. R. Cutter 
Jno. Parker. 
Province of 
New Hamps. 

I the Subscriber do hereby agree with the Committee above 

mentioned to comply with & fulfill in every Respect the above 

written agreement upon Penalty of forfeiting my Right in the 

Township of Wolfeborough & twenty five pounds Lawful Money 

besides. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & 

Seal the nth day of Oct'r, 1765. 

Paul March (L. S.) 
Witnesses. 

George Meserve 

Will'm Torrey" 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 47 

March did not comply with the terms of the foregoing contract ; 
but, as will subsequently appear, he did evidently commence a 
course of action that essentially promoted the settlement of the 
town. 

The titles by which the town proprietors held their respective 
lots of land were evidently established by the record of the draw- 
ing of said lots in the "Proprietary Book of Record" by John 
Parker, proprietors' clerk, a sworn officer. This drawing was 
according to a "Plan of Wolfborough" prepared by Walter 
Bryant, Jun. agreeably to a survey made by him, and took piace, 
as previously determined by a vote of the town proprietors, at the 
house of Zachariah Foss, innholder, in Portsmouth. N. H., Feb. 
19, 1766. The "Plan of Wolfborough" as well as the account 
of the drawing was placed on the "Proprietary Book of Record." 

In only one instance is it known that the town proprietors gave 
a written conveyance of land to one of their number. Surveyor 
Bryant had estimated that Wolfeborough Neck contained twelve 
hundred acres of land, and divided it into two lots, which were 
drawn by John Parker and Henry Rust. An actual survey, how- 
ever, showed that the "Neck" contained only five hundred and 
forty-seven acres. This was given to Parker, and Rust was al- 
lowed to take six hundred acres from the "Bryant Reservation." 

Here is a copy of the conveyance of his lot : — 

"Wolfborough May 20th 1767 Pursuant to Orders from Mr. 
John Parker, the Proprietors Clerk of said Wolfborough, I have 
laid out to Capt. Henry Rust one of the Proprietors of said Wolf- 
borough Six Hundred Acres of Land in said Township as his 
Share and Proportion in the Division of the Lands in said Town- 
ship, regard being had to the Situation, Quantity & Quality of 
said Lands, which Lot is Bounded as followeth. Viz., Beginning 
at the Northeast Bay of Winnipisiokee pond, where the Dividing 
Line of the Highway Between Lott Number fourteen in said 
Town (and one Thousand & Fifty Acres left & Intended for Elisha 



48 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Bryant & other Settlers in the Southeast Corner of said Town- 
ship) takes its Departure from said Pond & thence running 
Northeast bounding on said Highway which makes the Afore- 
said Division and also by part of Lott Number Thirteen to the 
Westerly Corner of Lott Number Twelve thence turning off at 
right Angles and Running Southeast on the highway adjoining 
Lott number Twelve to a Tree marked No. four on one side & 
three on the other side thence turning off at right Angles and run- 
ning Southwest to the Southwesterly Boundary Line of said 
Township thence turning off at right Angles and running North- 
west to the aforesaid Pond and also by said Pond to the Bounds 
first Mentioned, which is Lott No. 15 in said Township. Laid 
out by Walter Bryant Jun. Lott Layer for said Proprietors re- 
corded agreeably to the Return made by said Walter Bryant Jun. 
which is on File. 

John Parker, Proprietors Clerk." 

As within the limits of this lot is situated, the principal part of 
the village of South Wolfeborough, it seems proper to more fully 
describe it. Beginning at the bay referred to in the foregoing 
conveyance was a range-road \vhich extended to Lake Went- 
worth, a distance of four hundred and forty-four rods. For three 
hundred and fifty rods this range was the northwesterly boundary 
of Rust's lot, and separated it from lot fourteen (Treadwell's) 
and lot thirteen (King's). That portion of this range which now 
connects the highway leading to South Wolfeborough with the 
one leading to Pleasant Valley was subsequently opened to the 
public. At a point on this range ninety-four rods distant from 
Lake Wentworth, commenced another range road, now a public 
highway, which extended to New Durham line. For two hundred 
and seventy-five rods this range formed the northeasterly bound- 
ary of Rust's lot, and separated it from lot twelve (Thomas 
Wentworth's). The other lines of the lot are easily determined, one 
running directly to Lake Winnipesaukee and the other forming 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



49 



a portion of its shore. Within the Hmits of the Rust lot, were 
situated the larger portion of Rust's Pond, the Col. Rust farm, 
afterwards known as the Parker farm, the William Rust farm, the 
Henry Rust farm, generally called the "Rust farm," and the Rich- 
ard Rust farm. A considerable portion of the last named farm 
still remains in the possession of the Rust family, and the greater 
part of South Wolfeborough is built on land that was once a por- 
tion of it. 

Lots thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, and seventeen are, as a whole, 
more densely populated than other portions of the town, and the 
endeavor is made to determine with a tolerable degree of ac- 
curacy their boundary lines. 

Lots thirteen and fourteen were situated between Lake Winni- 
pesaukee and Lake Wentworth, the former adjoining Wentworth, 
and the latter Winnipesaukee, their southeast border being the 
range-road which extended from one lake to the other, the head 
of the Rust lot, and their northwestern boundary a parallel line 
which separated them from lot sixteen (Sewall's) and lot seven- 
teen (Torrey's). The abutting line between these two lots prob- 
ably extended from a point near the site of the Parker house, and 
ran southwesterly of the older Daniel Brewster house to a point 
in the farm of Joseph L. Avery, northeast of the present high- 
way and nearly opposite Green Street. Each lot contained four 
hundred and eighty acres of land, having a length and breadth of 
about equal extent. 

Lots sixteen and seventeen had the same southeastern line al- 
ready described, bordering on lots thirteen and fourteen. Their 
com.bined northwestern boundary line was seven hundred and 
eighty rods in length, a portion of the range-road that ran from 
Lake Winnipesaukee near Sewall's Point to Center Square. The 
abutting line between these two lots commenced a little east of 
the Joseph Varney premises near Bay Street, ran in the rear of 
the site of the shoe factories to Pickering's Corner, and con- 
tinued in the same general direction until it reached the neighbor- 



CO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

hood of Green Street. This description of lines determines the 
location of Sewall's lot. Its northwestly line to Sewall's Point 
was three hundred and eighty rods long; that to Clark's Point, 
probably less than two hundred and fifty rods. The lot at its 
widest part measured two hundred and eighty rods, but was very 
irregularly shaped. It contained four hundred and forty acres. 

Three lines of lot seventeen have already been described. The 
other, the northeastern line, abutted on lot eighteen, which 
eventually became a part of the Wentworth Farm. It was sep- 
arated from that by a range-road about one hundred and fifty 
rods long, which commenced at a small bay that sets in from 
Lake Wentworth, near Moose Point. This lot was four hundred 
rods long, two hundred and eighty rods wide, and contained 
seven hundred acres. Within its limits, extending from Picker- 
ing's Corner to the land now occupied by Charles D. Hersey, was 
the one-hundred-acre mill-lot, a tract one hundred and sixty rods 
long and one hundred rods wide, which now includes within its 
boundaries the most of the business section of Wolfeborough 
Falls. 

From the foregoing description of the boundaries and divisions 
of lots thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, and seventeen it will be seen 
that the territory included within these four lots was either bor- 
dered or crossed by three parallel lines that began at Lake 
Winnipesaukee and ran in a northeast direction, two of them 
reaching Lake Wentworth, and the other the extreme south- 
western border of the Wentworth Farm. Transverse lines sep- 
arated lot thirteen from lot fourteen, and lot sixteen from lot 
seventeen. These lines were not continuous, the former being 
situated about fifty rods northeast of the latter. Lot thirteen had 
but one set of buildings on it, those erected by Daniel Brewster ; 
all those situated on South Main Street, from the Henry Rust 
line to Green Street, are within the limits of lot fourteen. Almost 
the whole compact part of the "Bridge," including Sewall Street 
and Sewall's Point, is within the limits of lot sixteen. About one- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



51 



half of P'actory Street, that part of South Main Street between 
Pickering's Corner and Green Street, Center and Pine Streets, the 
whole of Wolfeborough Falls, Whitten's Neck, and the most of 
Bay Street are within the limits of lot seventeen. "King's Hill," 
"Sewall's Point," and "Torrey's Opening" — terms applied to cer- 
tain localities at the time of the early settlement of the town — 
indicate the ownership of certain original lots. 

The proprietors of Wolfeborough obtained possession of the 
township in the autumn of 1759. It is not known that special 
efforts were made to secure settlers until the spring of 1762, when 
Paul March, John Wentworth, and Dr. Ammi R. Cutter were 
appointed a committee with authority to ofifer gifts of land and 
money to settlers, and adopt such other measures as would be 
likely to promote settlements. Their efforts were not successful. 
Other members were added to the committee, and its powers were 
enlarged : still the coveted success failed to materialize. At the 
beginning of the year 1766 no permanent settlers had been se- 
cured. 

On May 26 a meeting was held to consider the proposal of 
George Meserve to build a saw-mill and a grist-mill on Smith's 
River. The agreement made between Meserve and the pro- 
prietors was that Meserve should build a saw-mill "to be ready to 
go" by the last of November and a grist-mill in two years from 
date. That is, the saw-mill was to be fit for use in November, 
1766, and the grist-mill in May, 1768. The proprietors were to 
give Meserve the right of ownership to the mill-lot of one hundred 
acres with all the privilege pertaining thereto, the largest island 
in Smith's Pond, supposed to contain one hundred acres, and 
forty-five pounds, lawful money. Meserve was to pay for any 
excess of land, should it contain more than one hundred acres, 
and give the proprietry a bell, when it should be of use in the 
township. Peter Livius, who had commenced an agricultural en- 
terprise in Tuftonborough, on the shore of the pond in the south- 
ern part of the town, desired to have an interest in the mills equal 



r2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

to a Wolfeborough proprietor, and was allowed the privilege. It 
is probable that Meserve built the saw-mill that season, but not 
the grist-mill. 

October ii, 1769, the proprietors took the following action in 
relation to the matter : 

"Whereas the Conditions on which the Mill Stream & privilege 
at Smith's River were agreed to be granted away, appear to this 
propriety not to have been complyed with in the Article of a Grist 
Mill as well with respect to the time as the Quality thereof in the 
said Conditions expressed — therefore Voted that the same Stream 
& privilege are forfeited & revert to the Grantors for non-perform- 
ing the said Conditions — and that Henry Rust be and hereby is 
appointed & authorized special Agent & Attorney to the Pro- 
prietors to enter into & take into his actual possession the said 
Mill privilege and Stream and all buildings thereon for the use 
of said Proprietors." The buildings were probably a saw- 
mill and dwelling-house, which Meserve had erected, having re- 
ceived the pledged forty-five pounds. 

March 28, 1770, it was voted "that the Mill Stream & Privilege 
on Smith's River with the Appurtenances which were formerly 
granted to George Meserve, but were forfeited and reverted to 
the Proprietors, be & hereby are granted to Dr. A. R. Cutter & 
David Sewall to them & their Heirs & Assigns forever on Con- 
dition that they have a good Grist-Mill built to the Acceptance 
of the Proprietors in eighteen months from this Date & that they 
keep said Mill & the saw mill in good Order & Repair." 

At a proprietors' meeting held March 13, 1771, George King, 
William Torrey, and John Parker were appointed a committee 
to inquire if the mills met the required conditions, and report at 
the adjournment. 

At the adjourned meeting, held May 7, the committee above 
mentioned made the following report : 

"It appears that Ammi Ruhamah Cutter and David Sewall have 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 53 

erected a good Saw Mill & Grist Mill on a Stream issueing from 
Smith's Pond into Winnipissiokee Lake & upon the Land & Falls 
in Wolfeborough commonly called the Mill privilege & have fully 
complied on their part with the proposed Conditions of their hav- 
ing the Lands called the Mill privilege with the Falls Stream & 
Appurtenances containing one hundred Acres together with a cer- 
tain Island in Smith's Pond called Mill Island suppossed to con- 
tain one hundred acres." 

Upon hearing this report of the committee, the following ac- 
tion was taken : — 

"Voted that the said Land called the Mill Lot with the Mill 
privileges therein together with the aforesaid Island called Mill 
Island now in the Actual Tenure & Occupation of the said Cutter 
& Sewall with the Buildings and Appurtances be and hereby are 
given granted and Confirmed to them the said Cutter & Sewall 
their several and respective Heirs and Assigns forever, and to 
perpetuate this Grant and Confirmation John Parker the Clerk of 
this Proprietry is hereby directed at the Request of the said Cutter 
& Sewall to make an Exemplification of the same in the Name of 
the Proprietors and having af^xed the Proprietors' Seal thereto 
to acknowledge the same before any Justice of the Peace of the 
Province as the Act and Deed of this Proprietry." 

At a meeting of the proprietors for drawing lots, held in Feb- 
ruary, 1766, it was voted that each proprietor should settle one 
family on his "right" on or before the first day of March, 1769, or 
forfeit two hundred acres of land. 

A meeting was called April 12, 1769, to ascertain what pro- 
prietors had failed to put settlers on their respective lots, and 
who of them had neglected to pay the tax assessed on their prop- 
erty. At this meeting it was voted that the time limited for 
settling lots be extended to the last day of the following June, 
when, in case of non-compliance with the original agreement, two 
hundred acres of each delinquent's land should be sold at public 



r^ HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

vendue. It was also voted to sell land in the same way to pay 
overdue taxes. 

Another meeting of the proprietors was held September 13, for 
the purpose of ascertaining what persons were still delinquent in 
settling their lots or paying their taxes. This meeting was ad- 
journed to October 11, when portions of six lots were sold for 
taxes, and two hundred acres of each of four lots declared forfeited 
to the proprietry. These forfeited lands were at the same time 
granted to "His Excellency, John Wentworth, Esq., on condition 
that he complies with the terms of settling said rights within 
twelve months from this date." 

In 1767 it became evident that the time was approaching when 
the efforts of the proprietors to secure settlers for Wolfeborough 
were to be successful. Individual proprietors were making 
strenuous efforts to induce families to settle on their respective 
lots, and March's schemes seemed likely to succeed No family 
came to the town to reside until the following year, but during 
the summer, Benjamin Blake and Reuben Libbey commenced 
felling trees on lots they had selected for future occupancy. Just 
as they had nearly completed their labors, Libbey's leg was 
broken by a falling tree. Blake set the bone as v/ell as he was 
able, built a booth over his companion to prolect him from the 
summer sun, placed near him the scanty remnant of food and a 
vessel of v>'ater, and set out for Gilmanton to procure aid. He 
was unavoidably absent two days. Libbey, in the meantime, hav- 
ing drunk the water left him, suffered much from thirst and an- 
noying insects which swarmed from the surrounding forest. On 
the evening of the second day help arrived, and an examination 
by the medical attendant showed that Blake's surgery needed no 
emendation. 

The permanent settlement of Wolfeborough dates from the 
year 1768, although a few persons, unaccompanied by their fam- 
ilies, had previously spent limited portions of time within its bor- 
ders. The region was noted for its peltry, and was frequently 




"— * Mil ■ .a-.. ' "^t^ / ^ 



GOVERNOR JOHN WENTWORTH 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



55 



visited by hunters. Persons also who had settled on the shores 
of Lake Winnipesaukee came to the meadows on the borders of 
Lake Wentworth in the hay season, cut and stacked the grass, 
which grew there bounteously, and in the winter removed it to 
their homes on the ice. William Rogers, when a lad, spent an en- 
tire winter on the shore of Lake Wentworth, caring for neat 
stock, which was kept in a hovel. He was visited only occasionally 
by members of his family with supplies of food. 



CHAPTER V. 

Governor John Wentworth — Parentage and Ancestry — A 
Student at Harvard — Friendship with Dr. Am mi R. 
Cutter — Becomes an Interested Proprietor of Wolfe- 
borough — Appointed Joint Agent for the Province at 
THE British Court — Made Surveyor of the King's 
W^ooDS in North America and Governor of the Prov- 
ince — His Reception at Portsmouth — Felicitous 
Commencement of His Administration — Lady Went- 
worth — The Governor's Interest in Dartmouth Col- 
lege AND Road-building — Livius' Charge of Mal- 
feasance — Political Antagonisms — Revolutionary 
Foreshadowings — Goes to Portsmouth — His last Of- 
ficial Act — Subsequent Career and Death. 

GOVERNOR WENTWORTH was from the first a most 
zealous promoter of the settlement of Wolfeborough, and 
as early as 1768 commenced operations on his own lands. Be- 
fore proceeding with a particular account of the settlement of the 
town, therefore, it may be well to give a sketch of its most dis- 
tinguished patron. 

John Wentworth, the last provincial governor of New Hamp- 
shire and proprietor of a large estate in Wolfeborough, was born 



56 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



in Portsmouth in 1737. He was the son of Mark Hunking Went- 
worth, a prominent merchant of that town, the grandson of 
Lieutenant-Governor John Wentworth, and the nephew of Ben- 
ning Wentworth, his immediate predecessor, who acted as gov- 
ernor of the province of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1767. At 
the age of fourteen years he entered Harvard College, making the 
journey to Cambridge on horseback, accompanied by a servant. 
Here he met Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, who for two years had been 
a student at the college. Between these two young men com- 
menced a close intimacy that lasted for a score of years, and a 
friendship that was lifelong. The parting of the political ways, 
however, forbade companionship through the greater part of their 
protracted lives. Society in the sober classic town was not wholly 
agreeable to the lively young denizen of the busy seaport, as will 
appear from the following letters addressed to Dr. Cutter, who 
had just commenced the practice of medicine in Portsmouth. 

To Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, in Portsmouth, per Post, 3s. 

Cambridge February 28th 1754. 
Dear Sir 

I with pleasure received your kind favour by Mr. Warner, who ar- 
rived here last Wenesday night. I do assure you Sir it is with the sin- 
cerest pleasure that I see a Prospect of renewing my literary correspon- 
dence with my agreeable friend Doctor Cutter, Qui semper mihi claris- 
simus fuit & semper erit. The observation you make of the great Va- 
riety of pleasing scenes we pass thro' is unjust, as it is now entirely 
chang'd from what it was then when your presence bless'd us, and if we 
had as pleasant living as ever yet without you it wou'd be imperfect to 
me. The College now is filled up (allmost) of Boys from 11 to 14 Years 
old and them seem to be quite void of the Spirit & life which is a general 
concomitant of Youth, so you may Judge what kind of life I now live, 
who was won't to live in the gayest and most Jovial manner, when I was 
at first admitted one of this Society which I then thought was a Com- 
pound of Mirth and Gaiety as it is now of Gravity. Should you go into 
a Company of Schollars now, you'd hear disputes of Original Sin, ac- 
tual Transgression & such like instead of the sprightly turns of Wit & 
Gay repartees which the former Companys used to have, which makes 
me cry out (& with reason) with a certain Author Oh Alma mater, how 
hast thou degenerated from thy Pristine Glory! So that you might have 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



57 



spar'd the Compliments of my Good nature as I cannot please myself 
more than in writing you. Pray don't let that Opinion of my likeing 
Brevity prevail as I assure you the other is my Choice as you may see 
by the length of this Epistle which I hope You'll excuse as it is a pleas- 
ure to Sir Your assur'd Friend 

J. Wentworth. 
To Dr. Cutter, 



lo Dr. Ammi R. Cutter In Portsmouth, 
per favour of Mr. Treadwell. 

Cambridge April 23rd 1754. 

Dear Sir. — I some time since had a pleasing hope that our Correspon- 
dence was to be again renewed, which hope does now but faintly glim- 
mer, tho' I do not yet despair, & hope you'll hinder me from Despairing 
by letting me hear from you when at leisure which 'do now assure you 
wou'd be a great and sincere pleasure to me. I hear that we are like 
to have Treadwell as schoolmaster at Portsmouth which I shou'd be very 
glad of as he is a young Gentleman that I have a great regard for & 
believe it will be for his advantage; Treadwell tells me there is as great 
Scarcity of Pedagogues with you about Portsmouth which 'hope will be 
supplied by some of your & my Cantabridgian acquaintance; both for 
your sake & mine as we shall then have a set of Companions that we can 
make merry with. Cambridge is barren of news at Present, so I hasten 
to subscribe myself your sincere friend & hble servant 

J. "Wentworth. 
To Dr. A. R. Cutter, 



To Doctor Ammi Ruhamah Cutter In Portsmouth 

Per Post 3s. 

Dr. Cutter Sir: I with great pleasure received your favour, which 
you intended by the young Colonel, who is arriv'd here safe; I am great- 
ly oblig'd to you for the Compliments you have so liberally bestowed 
upon me, and wou'd now in my Turn return them, but it is impossible 
to make any Upon Doctor Cutter, as let one say what they please they 
can't say more than the Truth of you, so hope all things consider'd you'll 
excuse the deficiency of this letter in Compliment. As to Cambridge it 
is as barren of news as Portsmouth for there is none stirring here ex- 
cept that Commencement is to be new stile this year, at which time 
shall be glad to see you here to Celebrate my entrance upon the last year 
of my Pilgrimage among the Heathen. Shall be very glad to hear from 



58 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



you by ev'ry Opp'ty when you are at leisure your Compliance of which & 

Acceptance of this will Greatly oblige your friend & most obedient h'ble 

servant. 

J. Wentworth. 

Cambridge Sunday noon, May 27th 1754. 

On leaving college young Wentworth entered the counting- 
room of his father, and was engaged in mercantile business for a 
few years. In October, 1759, he became one of the proprietors of 
the township of Wolfeborough, and in April, 1762, was appointed 
one of the first committee on settling the town, his associates being 
Paul March and A. R. Cutter. He took a lively interest in the 
matter of settlement until the autumn of 1763, when he sailed for 
England, where he remained four years. 

Theodore Atkinson, secretary of the province of New Hamp- 
shire, thus writes to Thomlinson, one of the most active friends 
of New Hampshire: — 

"Now, Dear Sir, Let me beg the favour of your wonted free and 
candid advice to the bearer, Mr. John Wentworth, my brother 
Mark's eldest son. (Atkinson married Wentworth's sister.) He 
will want nothing more than your common civility, and I'm sure 
y'll have pleasure in every favour of that kind you bestow upon 
him, as you will, I am persuaded, find him a worthy agreeable 
fellow." 

In another letter he says : "Mr. Wentworth is taking a trip to 
England by whom you will receive this. I know I need not 
recommend him to your house. You'll find him deserving every 
favour granted." 

At this period there was an animated and bitter controversy in 
the British government in relation to the American provinces. 
Wentworth, though young, was very active in promoting the 
interests of his native land. It is said that his influence in securing 
the repeal of the Stam.p Act was not inconsiderable. So greatly 
did his conduct commend itself to the New Hampshire people, 
that a resolution was passed by the. legislature, July 12, 1766, ap- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



59 



pointing him and Barlow Trecothick "joynt and separate agents 
for this Province at the Court of Great Britain." Secretary Atkin- 
son adds, "Accept our grateful thanks for your spirited and kind 
assistance in the affair of the repeal till you have it in a more 
general address which was designed you." 

August II, 1766, Mr. Wentworth was appointed by his Majesty, 
George III., governor of New Hampshire, and also "surveyor of 
the King's woods in North America." Sailing from England, 
he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, in March, 1767. Thence 
he traveled through the provinces, registering his commission of 
surveyor in each of them, and arrived at Portsmouth, June 13. 
The young governor was received by the citizens of his native town 
with marked demonstrations of respect and joy. A deputation 
met him without the limits of the town, and escorted him to the 
more compact part, where the military was paraded to receive him. 

Cannon at Fort William and Mary and extemporized batteries 
boomed ; church bells rang, and there was a banquet of the 
ofificials and principal citizens : Portsmouth had such a gala- 
day as it had never before witnessed. 

July 2 the governor met the council and assembly in session, 
and in his inaugural remarked : "I embrace the earliest oppor- 
tunity of meeting the Assembly, being desirous to afiford my con- 
currence to those Measures that may be necessary for the public 
service, which will ever meet my dilligent attention." At the 
close of his speech he adds : "It remains for me to observe that 
unanimity, Wisdom and application in all your proceedings will 
be the best means to compass the great End of your Consulta- 
tions, therein preserving the Honor of the Crown, and advancing 
the unlimited Prosperity of the Province, which are at present the 
only objects of my Wishes." 

July 4 the assembly replied to the governor's inaugural as fol- 
lows : — 

"May it please your Excellency — 

The House of Representatives have considered your Excel- 



6o HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

lency's Speech at the opening of this Session and returned you 
our sincere thanks for your care of the Publick service discovered 
by such an early meeting of the Assembly, after such a long, 
tedious and fatiguing journey and voyage as you have had to 
your Government, and giving us an opportunity to attend to the 
Business immediately necessary to be transacted. Your expres- 
sions and assurance of a Ready concurrence in that regard with 
those measures we shall pursue to the end, Deserve our thankful 
notice & acknowledgement. 

We acknowledge the Propriety & Reasonableness of our early 
and speedy attention to making an adequate & honorable sup- 
port for his Majesty's government in money of a fixed value, and 
the Lawfull money of this Province by a Law of the Province is 
now well ascertained and fixed. There is likewise the strongest 
icason from every just principle of Government for establishing 
the fees of all the officers of the government, which has been 
several times under the consideration of this and former As- 
semblys, but the form-er fluctuating state of the currency made 
the business difficult. Silver and gold currency have been estab- 
lished, we have made some progress in preparing a suitable table 
of fees, but have not yet been able to accomplish it. 

As the present season of the year with the peculiar Difficulties 
attending at this time render our attendance to these important 
affairs impracticable so far as to effect the same, we are neces- 
sarily obliged to pray your Excellency to suspend the business 
for such a short time as the state of our Husbandry requires." 

The members of the assembly, as intimated in the foregoing 
reply, desired to harvest the hay crop before spending more time 
in legislating ; so after a session of three days the governor 
adjourned the house to August i8. Before separating, however, 
a committee consisting of the whole house visited the governor 
in the council-chamber, and presented him with a formal address 
prepared by a committee appointed for that purpose. Here fol- 
lows a copv of it : — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 6l 

" May it Please Your Excellency — 

The Representatives of his Majesty's Loyal and Dutiful! sub- 
jects of the Province of New Hampshire concur in the General 
joy diffused thro' the same on the happy event of your safe arrival 
among them. Penetrated with the most lively sense of His 
Majesty's Paternal Regard to them in the appointment of Your 
Excellency to the chief seat of Government here, they make their 
very gratefuU and humble Acknowledgments. 

Your well known Benevolent Disposition, and other amiable 
qualities exhibited in private life, your abilities and inclination to 
Discharge the Special Duties of your exalted Station, with the 
connection usually arising from birth, education and fortune in 
the same place, gives the most sanguine Hopes that the Province 
will always have a strong interest in your esteem and affection. 
Your knowledge of the British Constitution and form of Govern- 
ment, and the high esteem you have always had for it, the remark- 
able opportunity you have had of hearing every Branch and part 
of it pass the most critical Examen that any age has ever seen, as 
it furnished a more intimate acquaintance with the extent and 
limits of every part, has we doubt not enhanced your esteem of 
this Constitution. 

We would also remember the eminent service you rendered 
this Province as an Agent at that critical conjuncture of affairs 
when it was threatened and in danger of irreparable Burthens ; 
and in the Name and behalf of our Constituents return our sin- 
cere and hearty thanks. 

The Result is — The most pleasing hopes that the civil and 
Religious liberties of the People under your Government will 
always find Protection and safety thro' your whole administration ; 
and more especially as they have hitherto preserved the character 
of quiet, loyal and dutyfull subjects, firmly attached to his Maj- 
esty's person and government, and we flatter ourselves they will 
never forfeit that character ; that they will always be disposed to 



62 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

demonstrate the truth of their profession by paying that Honor 
and Duty to his Representative here which his character and 
station demand, and especially to your Excellency whose advance- 
ment is follow'd with the highest satisfaction and acquiescence ; 
We therefore congratulate you, Sir, upon the Honor and trust 
his Majesty has conferr'd on you and on the other propitious at- 
tending circumstances. 

We add our earnest Desires that the General Complacency 
appearing on this occasion may continue during the whole time 
of your Administration, and that be long prosperous and happy 
to yourself and all under your care and charge." 

The governor replied to the address briefly and appropriately. 
Thus felicitously did John Wentworth, at the age of thirty years, 
enter upon his duties as chief magistrate of the province of New 
Hampshire, — a young man beloved by his youthful associates, 
respected by the maturer citizens of his native town, connected 
with its most influential and wealthy families, and developed by 
unusual facilities for acquiring theoretical and practical know- 
ledge. What seer had vision keen enough to predict that in less 
than ten years he would be an exile from the home he so loved 
and appreciated, and that through no fault of his or of those by 
whose direct agency it was brought about? 

November ii, 1769, Governor Wentworth was married to 
Mrs. Frances Deering Atkinson, the widow of his and her cousin, 
Theodore Atkinson, Jr. When quite young John Wentworth 
and his cousin, Frances Deering Wentworth, became mutually 
attached ; but while he was absent in England, Mr. Atkinson, 
whose mother was a sister of Mark Hunking Wentworth, wooed 
and won her. After the governor's return to New Hampshire, 
the families, who lived neighbors, kept up their friendly relations. 
Mr. Atkinson died on the twenty- eighth day of October, 1769. By 
order of the governor minute-gims were fired at the fort and on 
board the ship-of-war, Beaver, then in the harbor. Thirteen 
days afterward the governor and Mrs. Atkinson were united in 




LADY FRANCES WEN7W0RTH 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 63 

marriage. This may seem a strange proceeding, but the union 
may have been in accordance with the expressed wish of the 
deceased husband. In an account of the wedding in the "Boston 
News Letter" of November 17, the correspondent says of Mrs. 
Wentworth, "She is a lady adorned with every accompHshment 
requisite to make the marriage state agreeable." She subse- 
quently accompanied her husband to England, where she was 
distinguished for her beauty and conspicuous at court, being 
maid of honor to the queen. She died at Berks, England, in 181 3. 
Governor Wentworth had one son, Charles Mary, born in Ports- 
mouth in 1774. He acquired much wealth, was never married, 
and died at Kingsand, England, in 1844. Two New Hampshire 
towns were named in honor of the governor's wife, Deering and 
Francestown. 

Governor Wentworth was indefatigable in his efforts to de- 
velop the resources and promote the interests of the province. 
Education, agriculture, and internal commerce, to be facilitated 
by opening roads from the remote parts of New Hampshire to 
its only seaport, were matters that received his absorbing atten- 
tion. He evinced his interest in education by chartering Dart- 
mouth College in the wilderness for the double purpose of en- 
couraging settlements in the region and affording an opportunity 
for the untutored natives and a rural population to acquire knowl- 
edge. His great outlay on his extensive agricultural enterprise 
commenced in Wolfeborough is proof of his personal interest in 
the cultivation of the soil. He was especially earnest in urging 
the inhabitants of the province to construct roads to facilitate 
travel and the transportation of the products of their farms to 
market. Two of these, which would have incidentally promoted 
Wolfeborough interests, will now be noticed. 

The Pequaket or Conway Road commenced at Brookfield 
line, and passed through Cotton Valley to Frost's Corner, and 
over Hardy's Hill and the east side of Trask's Mountain to 
Ossipee. It was "spotted" by David Copp. In 1769 three miles 



64 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



of it were "cut" by Jacob Sceggel, Aaron Frost, and Grafton 
Nutter, and cleared by John Plummer, Esq. The remainder of 
it was "cut" by George Woodhouse. in 1771, bridged by Aaron 
Frost in 1772, and subsequently completed under the direction 
of Henry Rust. It was constructed at the expense of the town 
proprietors of Wolfeborough. From Wolfeborough the Pequaket 
Road was continued through Ossipee, Effingham, Eaton, and 
Conway to the Saco valley. It crossed the outlet of Lake Ossipee, 
where are still seen the foundations of a bridge. 

June 5, 1772, an act was passed by the provincial government, 
authorizing the "clearing and making passable a road from Con- 
way to Connecticut River on the east side of the White Hills." 
Had this been constructed, as was then intended, it would have 
opened a thoroughfare from the Coos region through Wolfe- 
borough to Portsmouth. 

April 12, 1 77 1, an act was passed, authorizing the construction 

of what was known as the College Road. Here is a copy of a 

portion of the act : — 

"Whereas the opening and making of roads through the various 
parts of the province is of great publick utility; and the making of a 
road to Dartmouth college will greatly promote the design of that valu- 
able institution: 

Be it therefore Enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly, that 
there shall be a road laid out three rods wide, and made passable, from 
the Governor's house in Wolfeborough, through part of Wolfeborough, 
Tuftonborough, Moultonborough, New Holderness, Plimouth, and from 
thence on the straightest and best course to Dartmouth college, in Han- 
over. And that Joseph Senter, Samuel Shepard, and David Copp, be 
and hereby are appointed a committee to lay out and mark said road, and 
make a plan thereof, from the Governor's house aforesaid, to Pemigewas- 
set river, near the mouth of Baker's river, at the charge of the province, 
not exceeding twenty-five dollars And that John House, — Freeman, and 
David Hobbart, be and hereby are appointed a committee to lay out and 
mark said road, and make a plan thereof, from Pemigewassett river 
aforesaid to the college, at the expense of the province, not exceeding 
twenty-five dollars. And that the proprietors and owners of the land 
within the towns respectively, through which the said road shall be laid 
out, shall forthwith cause the same to be made passable, to the accept- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 65 

ance of the respective committees laying out the same, at the charge of 
such respective town, by an equal rate on all the land therein, except 
land reserved or laid out for publick uses," 

Here is the report of the committee for surveying the first 

portion of the College Road : — 

"In Pursuance of our Appointment By Act of the Generall Assembly, 
We have Survayed Marked & Measured a Road, From the Governor's 
House in Wolfeborough To Plymouth, Which Road is Marked for Three 
Rods Wide, Begining at the Governor's House in Wolfeborough Afore- 
said. 

Running from Thence North 27 Degrees East 1 Mile And l^ to Mr. 
Rindges — 

From Thence W — 45 — N: % of a Mile on Wolfeborough Road 
From Thence W — 41 N — 7 Miles to Miles Road So Called 
From Thence W — 45 N — 14 of a Mile To Squire Livius 
From Thence No. 40 W. 5 Miles on Miles Road To Melvins River 
From Thence N — 32 W — 3 Miles & i/^ on Said rode to Colonell Moul- 
tons 

From Thence N — 34 W — 1 Mile to Ebenezer Blakes 
From Thence W— 20 S— 6 Miles & 14 To Senters 
From Thence W — 40 N — 8 Miles & 1/2 To Shepards 
From Thence N — 20 W — 1 Mile & Vs to Squire Livermores 
From Thence N — 25 W — 2 Miles & l^ Pemagawasset River at the En- 
trance of the Mill Brook So Called The Whole of Which Being Computed 
To Be 36 Miles & %ths All Which we Have Carefully Survayed Plainly 
Marked And Do Report Capable of Being Made a Good Road Of Which 
Survay We Have Herby Mad a True Return All Which is To Your Ex- 
cellency & Honours Most Humbly Submitted — 

Dated Sept 20th 1771— 

Joseph Senter ^ 

David Copp I Com. 

Samuel Sheperd, J 



Remarks explanatory of the sur\'ey — The first course — from 
the governor's house to Mr. Rindge's, one and one-fourth miles — 
was quite direct, passing over a portion of the meadov^, where 
were formerly the remains of a corduroy road, and east of John A. 
Chamberlain's buildings, to those now occupied by Harry Smith, 
where stood the house of Isaac Rindge. The second course — 
three-fourths of a mile on Wolfeborough Road — was a small 



56 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

portion of the road leading from the southeastern to the north- 
eastern part of Wolfeborough. The third course, almost directly 
west — seven miles to the Miles Road — crossed the farm now 
owned by James Stevenson, whose grandfather, Thomas Steven- 
son, used to point out the remains of a bridge over which the 
College Road passed. Thence it probably went north of Center 
Square to the outlet of Lily Pond, and from that point to the site 
of the Hersey cemetery. Continuing in the same westerly 
course, it passed east of Mirror Lake, and came to the Miles 
Road near the "Narrows.'' There, turning to the north, one- 
fourth of a mile might have reached land claimed by Peter Livius. 
His farm buildings, however, were situated a mile farther on, near 
the artificial outlet of Mirror Lake, then Livius' Pond. There 
it undoubtedly became the Pond Road, until it reached the "Upper 
Bay" in Tuftonborough. From there it continued towards Melvin 
River, passing over Bean's Hill, and subsequently becoming the 
County Road. Leaving Melvin, it continued in the same direction 
three and one-half miles to Moultonborough Lower Comer, the 
home of Colonel Jonothan Moulton. One mile beyond it reached 
Ebenezer Blake's. There its course was changed to a little south 
of west, and it continued six and one-fourth miles to the southern 
part of Moultonborough, where was situated the home of Joseph 
Senter, from whom Center Harbor perhaps took its name. If so, 
it should have been called Senter Harbor. 

The College Road was completed as a horseway to Hanover, 
and used as such. Moses Neal, for many years Recorder of 
Deeds for Strafford County, said that when a student at Dart- 
mouth College, he, in company with several other persons, rode 
over it. The following item from the "New Hampshire Gazette" 
of August 23, 1 77 1, is conclusive evidence that it was used for 
travel : "His Excellency Governor Wentworth with a number of 
gentlemen set out from here (Portsmouth) for Dartmouth Col- 
lege by way of Wolfeborough. They went to be present at the 
commencement exercises." 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 67 

In 1772, when the province of New Hampshire was divided 
into counties, Peter Livius, one of Governor Wentworth's 
council, desired to be appointed Justice of the Common Pleas, but 
failed to secure the office. Thereupon he went to England, and 
presented to the Lords of Trade charges of malfeasance in office 
against the governor. The principal complaints were that a large 
number of his family connections were members of the council, 
and that he had improperly disposed of lands previously granted. 
These charges were rigidly investigated, but were finally dis- 
missed. 

The proceedings were as follows : The investigations and find- 
ings of the Lords of Trade went before the Privy Council of the 
king, which reported : — 

"Upon the whole, therefore, the Lords of the Committee sub- 
mit to your Majesty, That there is no foundation for any censure 
upon the said John Wentworth, Esq., your Majesty's Governor 
of New Hampshire, for any of the charges contained in Mr. 
Livius's complaint against him, whose general conduct, in the 
administration of affairs within your Majesty's government of 
New Hampshire, is represented to have tended greatly to the 
peace and prosperity of the said Province." 

The declaration of the king in relation to the matter was: 
"His Majesty, taking the said report into consideration, is pleased 
with the advice of his Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to 
order, as is hereby ordered, That the said complaint of the said 
Peter Livius be dismissed this board. 

Signed, 

G. Chatwood." 

This transaction took place at the Court of St. James, the 

eighth day of October, 1773. The afifair was the occasion of the 

following address to the governor : — 

"To His Excellency John Wentworth Esqr. Capt. General and Govern- 
or in Chief in and over the Province of New Hampshire. — 



68 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The inhabitants of the town of Londonderry beg leave to approach 
your excellency, and express their sentiments of gratitude and affection 
to your excellency's person and administration. — We esteem it a pe- 
culiar mark of the favor of his gracious Majesty that he has appointed 
to the supreme command here a gentleman whose birth and education 
have been in the province over which he presides. From the circum- 
stances and your excellency's known character, we early conceived the 
most sanguine hopes from your administration. Nor have we been dis- 
appointed. The unabated attention you have given to the interests of 
the province has not only been felt by the people of your charge, but has 
been observed (we had almost said envied) by our neighbors who are 
without the limits of your jurisdiction. — The cultivation of land within 
the government, and the extension of settlements even to regions that 
were scarce known when your excellency came to the chair, must be at- 
tributed in a great measure to your care and the benignity of your gov- 
ernment, But it has not been in this view alone that you have been the 
patron of this people. To extend settlements or to cultivate lands while 
the people that settle & cultivate are without the means of knowledge, 
might be rather injurious than beneficial. But these have not escaped 
your excellency's attention. The institution of a college in the wilder- 
ness, and the liberal encouragement it has received from your hand is 
abundant evidence of this attention. 

We cannot help mentioning as a peculiar happiness of the people un- 
der your excellency's charge, that your ears have always been open to 
their voice. The easy access they have gained and the polite reception 
they have met with from you, has afforded them the means of communi- 
cating and your excellency of receiving all necessary information of their 
wishes and their wants. 

We have been excited to make this address to your excellency as a 
testimonial of our sense of your benign administration, and as an evi- 
dence of our opinion of any suggestions that may have been made to the 
predjudice of your excellency in these respects, and to assure you of our 
loyality to the king, and of our affection to your person." 

This address was signed by the town clerk of Londonderry, 
and was probably a fair expression of the attitude of the people 
of New Hampshire towards Governor Wentworth at the time 
of its writing, 1773. It is evident that the Livius episode did not 
disparage him either with his sovereign or subjects. 

In the earlier stages of the controversy between the home 
government and the provinces, Governor Wentworth counseled 
moderation and loyalty to the King of England, of whom per- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 69 

sonally there was little complaint, and by his cautious words and 
guarded strategy endeavored to prevent the occurrence of events 
that might be hazardous to the quiet of the community. Loyalty 
to his government would, of course, require of him the enforce- 
ments of its enactments, while aggressive laws would justify 
resistance on the part of the people ; hence although there might 
exist between the governor and citizens personal friendships, 
there would also be political antagonisms. The inhabitants of 
New Hampshire were as determined in their opposition to the 
aggressions of the British government as were those of any other 
province, but the kindly feeling generally existing between the 
governor and people had a tendency to prevent violent out- 
breaks. The frequent occurrence of exasperating events, however, 
increased estrangement, and a rupture was unavoidable. 

The first overt act which led to the departure of Governor 
Wentworth from New Hampshire occurred early in June, 1775. 
Colonel John Fenton, who had been elected to a seat in the pro- 
vincial assembly by the citizens of Plymouth, but who had not 
been allowed to take that seat on account of an alleged infor- 
mality in the election, was charged with hostility to the American 
cause. So great was the excitement among the people, that he 
feared assault, and fled to the governor's house for protection. 
Here is an account of the afiFair as given by the governor himself 
in a letter to General Gage, of Massachusetts, dated June 15, 

1775 :— 

"The spirit of outrage runs so high that on Tuesday last my house 
was beset by great bodies of armed men who proceeded to such length of 
violence as to bring a cannon directly before my house, and point it at 
my door, threatening fire and distruction, unless Mr. Fenton (a member 
of the Assembly then sitting) who happened to call upon me, and against 
whom they had taken up such resentment as occasioned him some days 
to retire on board a man-of-war in the Harbour out of their way, should 
instantly deliver himself up to them; and notwithstanding every effort 
to procure effectual resistance to disperse the multitude, Mr. Fenton was 
obliged to surrender himself, and they have carried him to Exeter about 
fifteen miles from Portsmouth, where he is, as I am informed, kept in 
confinement. 



70 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Seeing every idea of the respect due to his Majesty's Commission so 
far lost in the frantic rage and fury of the people as to find them to 
proceed to such daring violence against the person of his Representative, 
I found myself under the necessity of immediately withdrawing to Fort 
William and Mary, Both to prevent as much as may be a Repetition of the 
like insults and to provide for my own security. 

I think it exceedingly for the King's service to remain as long as 
possible at the Fort, where I now am with my Family in a small incom- 
modious house without any other prospect of safety, if the prevailing 
madness of the people should follow me hither, than the hope of retreat- 
ing on board his Majesty's ship Scarborough ; if it should be in my pow- 
er. This fort, although containing upwards of sixty pieces Cannon, is 
without men or ammunition." 



The governor writes again under date of June 19: — 

"Besides the inconvenience of being crowded into this miserable house, 
confined for room and neither wind or water tight, I am inevitably ob- 
liged to incur some extra expense for my safety and existence even here. 
Being of necessity compelled to make some small repairs to make it hab- 
itable, and to employ six men as watches to prevent my being surprised, 
and made prisoner. These, with my three servants, and Mr. Benning 
Wentworth, and Captain Cochran are divided into three guards of four 
hours each; by which means I have some security of getting on board the 
Scarborough. The six men are at the expence of Twelve dollars per 
month each, including their dieting, allowance of Rum, &c.; under which 
expence no trusty man can possibly be had for so unpopular a service in 
this time of general opposition to Government." 



Governor Wentworth still continued to hold official relation 
with the province through its secretary, Hon. Theodore Atkin- 
son, and there was considerable correspondence between them in 
relation to various matters. Here follows a copy of a letter from 
Wentworth to Atkinson : — 

Fort William & Mary, 

17th August 1775. 
Sir— 

I desire that you will summon the Council to meet here this after- 
noon at 4 o'clock, if possible, if not at nine o'clock to morrow morning 
without fail, having occasion to lay some matters concerning his Majes- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 7I 

ty's service before them for their consideration and advice. Please to 
send me an answer as soon as may be. 

I am, Sir, your most obedient 

Humble Servant 

J' Wentworth. 
The Honorable 
Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 

It is doubtful if the council had a meeting, but here is a copy 
of Atkinson's reply : — 

Portsmouth, August 17, 1775 half after 4 o'clock, P. M. 

Sir — I this Inst, received your Excellency's Command, of this Day, 
but too late to Summon the Council to attend your Excellency at Fort 
Wm. and Mary but shall endeavor to do it so as to attend on your Ex- 
cellency on the morrow as you order. 

I am your Excellency's most obedient 

Humble Servant, 

A . 

Another letter from Wentworth to Atkinson : — 

Fort William & Mary, August 23, 1775. 
Sir— 

I find it necessary to go to sea for a few days, and I must desire that 

in the mean time you will use your best endeavors to preserve peace and 

quietness as much as possible. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble 

servant. 

J' Wentworth. 
Honorable Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 

The reply : — 

Portsmouth, August 29, 1775. 

Sir — I received your Excellency's favour of the 23rd, and shall use 
every method to preserve the peace of town and land. I hope it will not 
be long ere your return. 

I have been importuned to write a few lines to the Commander of his 
Majesty's guard ship at Nantasket, in favor of Mr. Hale appearing for 
the freighter of the ship Elizabeth. A copy you have enclosed. 
Your Excellency's most obliged and most obedient humble servant, 

Theodore Atkinson. 



72 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Here is a copy of the letter from Governor Wentworth, ad- 
dressed to Secretary Atkinson, accompanying the proclamation 
by which he prorogued the general assembly of New Hamp- 
shire : — 

Gosport, September 21, 1775. 
Sir- 
Being just arrived at the Shoals, and pressed for time, I can only de- 
sire that the Enclosed Proclamation for Prorogueing the General Court 
to the 24th of April next, may be forthwith published and made effectual 
to its intent. Mr. King will transmit me the copy of Captain Gamble's 
Patent properly countersigned. 

I am, in haste, dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant. 

J' Wentworth. 
Honorable Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 

The following is the proclamation : — 

Province of New Hampshire — By the Governor. 
A Proclamation. 

Whereas, the General Assembly is now under adjournment to Thurs- 
day, the 28th Instant, and it appearing to me no way conducive to his 
Majesty's service or the welfare of the Province, that the Assembly 
should meet on that day, but that it is expedient to prorogue them to a 
farther time, I therefore thought fit to issue this Proclamation, prorogue- 
ing the meeting of the General Assembly to be held at Portsmouth on 
the 28th of September instant, to the 24th of April next, at ten o'clock in 
the forenoon; and the General Assembly is hereby prorogued according- 
ly, to that time, then to meet at the Court House at Portsmouth afore- 
said; and hereof all persons concerned are to take notice and Govern 
themselves accordingly. 

Given at Gosport, the 21st day of September, in the fifteenth year of 
the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by the Grace of God 
of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. 
and in the year of our Lord Christ, 1775. 

By his Excellency's Command, J' Wentworth. 

Theodore Atkinson, Secretary. 

The issuing of this proclamation was the last official act of 
Governor Wentworth's administration. Never again did he set 
foot within the province of New Hampshire. It appears, however, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



73 



from letters which he wrote that he continued to remain in this 
country two years or more after hostihties commenced, expecting 
the subjugation of the colonies and consequently a return to his 
former government. From Nantasket Road, under date of March 
i8, 1776, he writes to the Earl of Dartmouth, "On the withdrawing 
of the troops from Boston I have taken a vessel for my removal to 
whatever place the Fleet and Army shall go to, and purpose to 
remain under its protection." He next writes from Halifax, April 
10, 1776; then from Long Island, November 5, 1776; from New 
York, January 6, 1777; from Flat Bush (Long Island), January 
17. 1777, he writes to his sister; again, February 3, 1777, from 
the same place he writes to the Secretary of the Treasury (Eng- 
land) thanking him for a grant of five hundred pounds a year; 
and in a letter dated London, May 15, 1778, he says he sailed for 
England, February 7, 1778, and resides in London. 

The departure of Governor Wentworth from New Hampshire 
was in striking contrast to his triumphal entrance as chief magis- 
trate of that province. He was compelled to leave the land of his 
nativity, the home of his dearest and most constant friends, the 
scenes of his brief official career, the estate where he hoped to 
illustrate the profits of agriculture and the pleasures of rural life, 
and the province which he so much loved, just beginning to give 
evidences of an approaching vigorous prosperity, — to become 
literally a wanderer. And this had occurred through no fault of 
his or the people whom he had governed. Such are at times the 
inexorable mutations of human life. The departure from New 
Hampshire is thus announced to the provincial congress, sitting 
at Exeter: — 



Portsmouth, Aug. 25, 1775. 
Sir: 

We beg leave to inform tlie Honorable Provincial Congress that yes- 
terday his Majesty's ships, Scarborough and Canso, sailed from this Har- 
bour, 'tis said, for Boston, with Governor Wentworth and his family on 
board. 



74 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

I am, by order of the committee of safety. Sir, your most Humble 

Servant, 

H. Wentworth, chairman. 

To the Honorable, the President of the Provincial Congress. 

In 1792 Governor Wentv^^orth was appointed lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of Nova Scotia. He resided in Halifax, where he died 
April 8, 1820, aged eighty-three years. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Sketch of Dr. Ammi Ruhamaii Cutter — A Notable Figure 
IN the Early History of the Town — Other Proprie- 
tors — Judge David Sewall. 

NO person not a resident of the town of Wolfeborough, except 
Governor Wentworth, sustained so intimate relations with it 
as did Dr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, and therefore it is fitting that a 
somewhat extended notice of him should be given. 

Dr. Cutter was the eldest child of the Rev. Ammi Ruhamah 
Cutter. He was born at North Yarmouth, Mass. (now Maine), 
March 15, 1735. At the age of twelve years, accompanied by a 
servant, he rode on horseback, mostly through a wilderness, one 
hundred and fifty miles to Cambridge. After a year's preparatory 
discipline, he entered Harvard College, and graduated with honor 
in 1752, being seventeen years old, and began the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. Clement Jackson of Portsmouth, N. H. He was 
induced to select this town to pursue his medical studies on ac- 
count of pleasant companionships formed at Harvard with young 
men from that place. Among his most intimate friends was John 
Wentworth, afterwards Governor of the Province of New Hamp- 
shire. He was soon after admitted to practice, and was appointed 
surgeon of a body of rangers which formed a part of the army on 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



75 



the frontiers in the war with the Indians in 1765. He remained 
with the army until the spring of 1768, when he was attacked with 
small pox. On his recovery from this, he returned to Portsmouth. 
In 1758 he married, and entered on the practice of medicine in 
Portsmouth, where he was eminently successful. He was urged 
to enter the army again, but declined. 

The friendship between Dr. Cutter and Governor Wentworth 
commenced in youth and ripened with the increase of years, al- 
though on the great questions soon agitating the country they 
differed. The Governor offered him a commission as counsellor, 
which he declined. Here is a copy of his reply : — 

"May it please your Excellency, — the unexpected honor you have done 
me in recommending me to a seat in his Majesty's Council for this Prov- 
ince, and my Appointment in Consequence, demand my grateful Ac- 
knowledgements, but at the same time I beg leave to inform your Excel- 
lency, that the necessary attention to my Profession as a Physician, and 
the present unhappy Controversy between the Parent State and the Colo- 
nies, are the Reasons that oblige me to excuse myself from accepting the 
Honorary Appointment intended me. 

I am, with the greatest Respect, 

Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant." 

In joining the Whigs, therefore, against the Governor, which 
Dr. Cutter did early and decidedly, he had to make a sacrifice 
of private feelings on the altar of patriotism which fell not to the 
lot of all. Their friendly intercourse was not interrupted, how- 
ever, by difference of political opinions, for after the Governor 
had been compelled to take refuge on board the ship-of-war near 
the fort, he sent a pressing request to Dr. Cutter to give him an- 
other meeting. It was their last interview, as the Governor soon 
after left the harbor never again to return, and Dr. Cutter was 
probably the last New Hampshire gentleman whom he had an 
opportunity of seeing within the limits of the republic. Forty 
years afterward, when a gentleman from Portsmouth happened to 
see Sir John at Halifax, Nova Scotia, when he was Governor of 



7^ 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



that province, the first question he asked, after the usual saluta- 
tion, was as to the welfare of his early friend. 

In the beginning of the year 1777 Congress resolved to re- 
organize the medical department, and Dr. Cutter was called upon 
to give his time and his services to his country in her hour of 
need. He had then a family of ten small children and an exten- 
sive and lucrative range of practice, but in those days no man 
felt at liberty to choose between the service of his country and 
his own convenience. The post ofifered to him was that of 
Physician General of the eastern department, and his station was 
to be at Fishkill, on the North River. The following extract of 
a letter from General Whipple, one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, will show the nature of this appointment, 
and serve to exhibit the high estimation in which Dr. Cutter was 
held. It is dated at Philadelphia, April 15, 1777. 

"The army now forming will, I hope, under Heaven, free America 
from the calamities of a destructive war. The scenes of horror and dis- 
tress, occasioned by some mismanagement in the medical department last 
year, were real shocking to humanity. Congress being sensible of this, 
and determined to remedy the evil, if possible, have formed a plan on 
the most liberal principles with a design, if possible, to draw into the 
service of their country gentlemen of the first eminence from different 
parts of the continent, many of whom have alreaay engaged. Your hu- 
manity and firm attachment to the most glorious cause that ever man- 
kind was engaged in, will, I flatter myself, induce you to forego the 
pleasure of domestic happiness for a time, as you will thereby render a 
most essential service to your country. I hope, therefore, soon to have 
the pleasure of hearing your acceptance of the trust, and of your arrival 
at tne hospital, which for the department in which you are placed will 
be at some convenient place on the eastern side of the Hudson River." 

Dr. Cutter remained at Fishkill most of the year and until the 
beginning of the next, when the circumstances of his family com- 
pelled him to resign his office. Pie gladly returned to his family 
and the business of his profession. 

Dr. Cutter had no taste or time for political life, and held no 
civil office except a seat in the convention that framed the Con- 



HISTORY OF V/OLFEBOROVGH. 77 

stitution of the State of New Hampshire. Before and after the 
Revolution he allied himself with those political organizations that 
entertained the most liberal views. Foregoing pages have given 
something of his history as connected with the town of Wolfe- 
borough. He died suddenly on the eighth of December, A. D. 
1820, aged eighty-five years. His old and constant friend, Gov- 
ernor Wentworth, died the same year. A son, Nathaniel, spent 
the latter part of his life in Wolfeborough. His remains were in- 
terred in the Wolfeborough cemetery. 

It may not be out of place to give in this connection brief 
sketches of the proprietors. Few of these men became settlers, it 
is true, but it is largely due to their enterprise that the town was 
settled at all, and there is little evidence that they profited greatly 
by their association with the new town. 

Thomas Packer, a purchaser of Mason's Patent, was the sherif? 
of the Province of New Hampshire who executed Ruth Blay in 
December, 1768. He is represented as an upright man, faithful 
but rigidly severe in the discharge of his duties. 

Theodore Atkinson was the largest owner of the Masonian 
claim, having purchased one-fifth. He was educated at Harvard 
College, graduating in 1718. Soon after he was made a lieutenant 
and in 1720 clerk of the court of common pleas. For many years 
he commanded the first regiment of militia in the province. He 
held the offices of collector of customs, naval officer, and sheriff, in 
1734 was admitted to a seat in the Council, in 1741 was appointed 
secretary of the province, in 1754 was a delegate to the Congress 
that met at Albany, and was afterwards a justice of the superior 
court. He died in 1779. 

Mark H. Wentworth, father of Governor John Wentworth, was 
a merchant, and furnished large quantities of masts and spars for 
the British navy. His various business operations brought him a 
large fortune. He was one of the original purchasers of Mason's 
Patent, of which he owned two-fifteenths. A large claimant 
against the confiscated estate of his son, he generously withdrew 



78 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



his claim that other creditors might be paid in full. He was for 
many years a member of the Provincial Council. He died in 

1785- 

George JafYrey was treasurer of the provisional Council for sev- 
eral years. He was for a long time clerk of the Masonian Pro- 
prietors, of whom he was one. 

John Parker, second son of William Parker, Esq., was born 
in 1732. He was made sherifif of the province in 1771, and after 
the division into counties, was appointed sheriff of Rockingham 
County. When the federal government went into operation, he 
was appointed marshal of the district of New Hampshire. These 
offices he held until his death, which occurred in 1791. His de- 
scendants have played a prominent part in the history of this 
town. 

Joshua Brackett was bom in Greenland in 1733, and graduated 
at Harvard in 1752. He studied theology, and was for a time a 
preacher, but afterward took up the practice of medicine, in which 
he won great honor. In 1783 the Massachusetts Medical Society 
elected him an honorary member, in 1791 "he was complimented 
by his alma mater with a medical doctorate." The same year he 
was made first vice-president of the New Hampshire Medical So- 
ciety, and in 1793 succeeded Governor Bartlett as president. He 
laid the foundation of the society's medical library by a gift of one 
hundred and forty-three valuable books, and bestowed certain 
property valued at fifteen hundred dollars upon the University of 
Cambridge for a professorship in natural history and botany. He 
was appointed judge of the maritime court of the state at the be- 
ginning of the Revolution. He gave his nephew, John Brackett, 
one hundred acres of land out of his proprietor's lot, No. 11. His 
death occurred in 1802. 

Daniel Pierce was characterized as being "affable, judicious, 
and sensible" and a friend to the poor. He usually acted as 
moderator at the proprietors' meetings. He held the offices of 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



79 



recorder of deeds and justice of the peace, and in 1766 was ap- 
pointed one of His Majesty's Council. He died in 1773. 

David Sewall, after practicing law for a time in Portsmouth, 
moved to York County, Maine. He was afterwards judge of the 
United States Circuit Court. He frequently visited Wolfe- 
borough, being for many years joint owner with Dr. Cutter of the 
mills on Smith River. Sewall's Point, to which now leads Sewall 
Street, was named for the Judge. At his death he bequeathed 
to the public the landing, now covered with buildings and con- 
trolled by private individuals. This bequest is treated of else- 
where, at greater length. 

William Parker, Jr., was probably a brother of John Parker and 
a son of William Parker, Esq., of Portsmouth. He died in 1813. 

Jotham, John, Daniel, and Isaac Rindge were relatives of Gov- 
ernor Wentworth. Jotham appears to have had the care of the 
Governor's estate. He was authorized to call the first meeting 
of the inhabitants of Wolfeborough, and was appointed the first 
town clerk. Daniel was a member of the Provincial Council, be- 
ing appointed in 1776. Isaac was quite prominent. He aided 
in establishing the north-east boundary, and during the Gov- 
ernor's operation built a house here. As he was a loyalist, the 
Provincial Congress directed him, November 15, 1775, tO' remove 
himself to some place at least fifteen miles from Portsmouth and 
there to remain until he was granted leave to go abroad. This 
restriction was removed January 3, 1776. Wolfeborough was 
doubtless the place of his exile, as he was evidently here before and 
after the Governor's departure. 

Thomas Wallingford was a native of Somersworth. He en- 
gaged in business and was very successful. By becoming a pur- 
chaser of the Mason Patent he acquired great landed interests in 
various parts of the province. He commanded a regiment of 
militia and was one of the judges of the superior court. He died in 
1771- 



go HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Jotham Odiorne was a member of the Council and a purchaser 
of Mason's Patent. 

James Stoodley was a noted taverner in Portsmouth. His hotel 
on Daniel Street was burned in 1761, and rebuilt. His place was 
for years the usual resort for travelers from Boston to Maine. 

Jonathan Warner married a cousin of Governor Wentworth 
and was a member of the Council previous to the Revolution. His 
tax in 1770 was exceeded in amount by only two persons. 

George Meserve, Esq., of Portsmouth, is considered in a pre- 
ceding chapter. 



CHAPTER VH. 

The Governor's Farm — Innate Love of Earth — Influence 
OF English Country Life on Governor Wentworth — 
Location and Area of the Farm — The Mansion- 
house and Surroundings — How the Land was pre- 
pared — The Wall — The Park — Promotion of Local 
Interests — The Piscataoua Canal — Roads to Canada 
— Pursuits of First Settlers of New Hampshire — 
Dr. Dwight's Characterization — Development of 
THE Governor's Plans — His Intentions — Occupation 
of the New House — New Hampshire's Oldest Water- 
ing Place — Legendary Lore — The Governor's Slaves 
— The "high gust of wind" — Description of the Man- 
sion IN 1770 — The Governor's Retainers — War Clouds 
arise — Hurried Visit to the Farm — The Final Scenes 
OF the Drama. 

MEN love the soHd earth ; other possessions seem evanescent, 
but a portion of terra firma appears tangible and perma- 
nent. Thus it is that so many persons, on retiring from official po- 
sitions or active business life, are desirous of possessing real estate. 










%..:^!m 






a. 
o 



if) 

UJ 



O 



cc 
O 

I- 
z 

UJ 

tr 
O 

z 
cc 

LU 
> 

o 



<. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. gl 

John Wentworth spent a portion of his early manhood in Eng- 
land. His family and social relations in America were such as 
to entitle him to a place in the higher ranks of society in the 
mother country, many of his friends being noblemen who pos- 
sessed baronial estates. He was charmed with their mode of liv- 
ing, and on returning to his native land, where there was ample 
opportunity to gratify a natural taste for agriculture, intensified 
by association and observation, it is not strange that he should 
have essayed to establish an extensive domain. 

When the township of Wolfeborough was divided into pro- 
prietary lots, its northeast portion consisted of two parallel tiers 
of five lots each, numbering from one to ten, the tiers adjoining 
Lake Wentworth bearing the smaller numbers. Several of the 
town proprietors, as already mentioned, because of neglect to pay 
their taxes and non-compliance with the terms of settling their 
lots, forfeited portions of their lands to the proprietry. These 
were sold at auction. Lots one, two, three, and four came into 
the possession of Governor Wentworth either by purchase or an 
agreement to settle them. The tract embraced by these four lots 
lay between Lake Wentworth and the Cotton Valley road, and 
had an average width of a little less than five hundred rods. In 
length it extended from Middleton to the Triggs farm, eight hun- 
dred and sixty rods. Its area was two thousand three hundred 
and fifty acres. Within its limits is the site of the governor's 
buildings. Mount Delight, Martin's Hill, and the "Meadows." 

At the drawing of the lots the one numbered seven, the second 
in the more easterly tier and abutting on lot two, fell to Went- 
worth as a town proprietor. It extended to Wolfeborough Ad- 
dition, was two hundred and fourteen rods wide, and contained 
six hundred and forty-two acres. Lot eighteen, six hundred 
acres, was drawn by John Rindge. It extended on the Lake 
Wentworth shore from lot four to Moose Point. Its northern 
boundary was for a short distance on the line of the road leading 
from Center Wolfeborough to Wolfeborough Falls, then on that 



82 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of a portion of the range-way from Center Square to Lake Win- 
nipesaukee. On the west it abutted on the Torrey lot. Within 
its limits are situated the farms now owned by John F. Chamber- 
lin, Frank J). Kenney, Henry J. Coleman, George Tyler, and a 
portion of the land where stood the Hersey woods. This lot also 
became a part of the Wentworth Farm. The amount of land in 
lots seven and eighteen added to that contained in the four lots 
just referred to equals three thousand five hundred and ninety- 
two acres, the amount of land in one body possessed by Governor 
Wentworth in the town of Wolfeborough. It is said that he had 
fifteen hundred acres adjoining this in the second division of 
Middleton (now Brooklield) and New Durham, and the statement 
is probably correct, as the following extract from the doings of the 
New Hampshire committee of safety would indicate : — 

"State of New Hampshire — In Committee of Safety. 

Sept. 8, 1780. To Capt. Gilman, Trustee of the state of the late 
Governor Wentworth's estate : 

Provided any person in behalf of the heirs of Joseph Simms, 
late of Portsmouth, deceased, should bid ofi any lands belonging 
to said estate in Middleton in the County of Strafford at vendue, 
you are desired to take security, and not demand the money." 

This would indicate that the governor had a claim on such 
lands. If so, he possessed in one compact body upwards of five 
thousand acres of land. 

Governor Wentworth commenced operations on his farm in 
1768. In a letter written by him April 25, 1768, to Colonel 
Thomas M. Waldron of Dover, N. H., he states that it was not 
alone his desire to form an English country-seat here that caused 
him to obtain and develop the land of which he was then in posses- 
sion, but that his chief object was to rapidly develop the resources 
of the province, and that he looked for others to follow his ex- 
ample in this field. In the same letter he writes : "Mr. Benjamin 
Hart, overseer of my designations in the wilderness, and Mr. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 83 

Webb, who is to reside there as farmer, are now there on their 
first expedition to clear a few acres and build a humble habita- 
tion for me." 

In 1768, 1769, and 1770 a large force of laborers was employed, 
a great extent of forest cleared, fields sown, orchards planted, a 
large garden laid out, and the mansion erected, though not fin- 
ished. The site of the house was a small plain about one hun- 
dred rods east of Lake Wentworth. 

The house was one hundred feet long and forty feet wide, as 
shown by the cellar over which it stood, and fronted both east and 
west. It was two-storied with a gambrel roof, the upper story be- 
ing eighteen and the lower twelve feet high. Its windows, glazed 
with small panes of glass, were six feet wide. A hall twelve feet 
wide extended across it, entered at each end by massive doors, the 
keys of which weighed one and one-half pounds each. Mrs. Ray- 
nard, the last occupant of the house before it was burned, sent one 
of them to the governor, then an octogenarian, who was deeply 
moved upon its receipt. The principal room in the upper story 
was the "East India chamber," the walls of which were covered 
with finely painted paper, representing life scenes in the East. 
Here was a white marble fireplace ; on each side were niches in 
which to place statues. On the same floor were the "green room" 
and the "blue room," thus named from the color of their finish- 
ings. Here also was the "king and queen's chamber," which had 
a fireplace of gray marble and niches where stood the statues of 
the king and queen of England. In the lower story were the 
store-room, kitchen, dining-room, drawing-room, and library. In 
the last named room was a black marble fireplace with a tile 
hearth. At the southerly end of the house was a one-storied 
building called a porch, which was probably used for various 
domestic purposes. At a little distance was a dairy with a well 
and fireplace. 

The principal bam was one hundred feet long. It is still in 
existence, one-half of it standing on the farm of Hon. Thomas L. 



84 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGU. 



Whitton and the other half on that of his son, Charles A. Whitton. 
Other barns, stables, and out-buildings were erected. 

A large extent of land was cleared, the most of it in the ordinary 
way — by felling, piling, and burning the trees. Where a smooth 
surface was required for pleasure-grounds, gardens, orchards, etc., 
however, a more expensive and expeditious method was adopted, 
the roots of the tree being removed with the bodies. Some of 
the grounds were enclosed by carefully constructed stone walls 
that remain standing at the present time. A mall was built, ex- 
tending from the shore of the lake to the mansion and ground 
beyond, a portion of which is still in a state of good preservation. 
This was bordered with elms, some of which still guard the un- 
frequented way. A park was also constructed, and stocked with 
deer and moose. It was fenced in the following manner : a ditch 
twelve feet wide was dug, and an embankment formed on the 
outer side from the earth thrown out ; on this were piled large 
trees with the branches interwoven. Near the park was the house 
of Robert Calder, the Scotch gardner, the hearth-stone of which 
is still to be seen. 

The northerly end of the house, nearly one-half of it, was never 
completed. It was, no doubt, intended by the governor for court- 
rooms. He had been largely instrumental in dividing New Hamp- 
shire into counties, of which Strafford was one. The subsequent 
action of the provincial legislature indicates his purpose in relation 
to the location of the courts. June 13, 1772, the council voted 
"that all the courts for the county of Strafford be held for the 
term of seven years at Dover, and afterwards one-half of them 
at Wolfeborough." The assembly concurred with the action of 
the council with this proviso, "that after seven years held at 
Dover, one-half of the courts be held at some other place as the 
Governor and Assembly shall then direct and order." Wolfe- 
borough, at the time of this legislation, was in an inchoate state, 
and in no condition to entertain the courts ; nor was the neighbor- 
ing population sufficiently large to require them. In seven years 




^ ^ S 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 85 

the governor expected it to be a thickly inhabited town, sur- 
rounded by a somewhat populous district. 

While endeavoring" to promote the interests of the whole 
province, the governor was especially desirous to secure for 
Wolfeborough all possible advantages. This is seen in his eflforts 
for the construction of the Pequaket, College, and Connecticut 
River Roads, all of which were designed to reach Wolfeborough. 
In the matter of the vStrafTord County courts is seen the same 
purpose to favor this locality. Had England and the American 
provinces remained united, and Governor Wentworth continued 
to be the chief magistrate of New Hampshire, it is probable that 
at the beginning of the nineteenth century Wolfeborough would 
have been, next to Portsmouth, the most important town in the 
province. Of course, the improved modes of travel and trans- 
portation since introduced would eventually have changed the 
current of business, and the same causes which enabled Boston to 
absorb a large amount of the trade of Portsmouth, Newburyport, 
and Salem would have rendered it as today the emporium of New 
England, and, as a consequence, changed the condition of many 
New Hampshire towns, perhaps of Wolfeborough. 

Without doubt Governor Wentworth, as did others, expected 
that at no distant period Lake Winnipesaukee and Piscataqua 
River would be connected by a canal commencing at Wolfe- 
borough, and that water-ways and roads would be extended to 
the Canadian regions. As early as 1768 he advocated such meas- 
ures, and gave assurance that he would endeavor to secure the co- 
operation of the members of the provincial legislature and other 
inhabitants. 

In the establishment of the provincial governments, each 
province conducted its own internal afifairs quite independently of 
its neighbors. There was little concerted action, except in the 
war with the aborigines, until the revolt against British tyranny. 
Consequently, New Hampshire was the exclusive domain of Gov- 
ernor Wentworth when he became its chief magistrate. 



86 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Almost the only pursuit of the earliest settlers of this province 
was the catching and curing of fish. The manufacture of lumber 
soon followed, however, as the shores of the Piscataqua and its 
tributaries abounded with oak and pine timber, and numerous 
cascades furnished ample water-power. These commodities, fish 
and lumber, were taken to the West Indies, and exchanged for 
rum and molasses. The latter was brought to Portsmouth and 
distilled, and the product of the distillation shipped to the neigh- 
boring seaports and sold. The traffic was very lucrative, and the 
town merchants became wealthy. The result was that farming 
was neglected, and provisions and other necessities of life were 
imported. These were oftentimes scarce and sold at exorbitant 
prices. 

It was the purpose of Governor Wentworth to equalize the in- 
dustries of the province, and advance to its proper position the 
most neglected, yet most important one, agriculture. This seems 
to have been his prime object in commencing his enterprise in 
Wolfeborough, as intimated in his letter to Mr. Waldron, already 
quoted. Firmly believing that farming would prove a remunera- 
tive business, he engaged in it not only for the purpose of stimu- 
lating others to follow him, but also with an expectation that its 
pursuit would accrue to his own personal benefit. No doubt his 
anticipations would have been realized, had he been permitted to 
continue the business without interruption, since agriculture was 
the principal pursuit of the people of New Hampshire during the 
following half-century. His zeal for the general welfare of the 
province led Rev. Dr. Dwight, president of Yale College, to thus 
write of him : "Governor John Wentworth was the greatest bene- 
factor of his province. He was a man of sound understanding, 
refined tastes, enlarged views, and a dignified spirit. His manners 
were elegant and his disposition enterprising. Agriculture here 
owed more to him than any other man. He originated building 
new roads, and improved old ones. He was very popular, had 
an unimpeachable character, and retired with a high reputation." 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 87 

It was not, however, the sole object of Governor Wentworth in 
engaging in the Wolfeborough enterprise to prepare a farm for 
strictly agricultural purposes. His visit to England had increased 
a previously possessed desire to have a large landed estate like 
the baronies of the British Isles. Securing the lands in Wolfe- 
borough and vicinity afforded him an opportunity to gratify his 
tastes in this particular. The locality was a desirable one for his 
purpose. The plain, which lay adjacent to the lake-shore, spread- 
ing out in different directions, was a fitting place for his residential 
mansion. There was ample room for wide fields and extensive 
gardens and orchards, the broad incline to the southeast, sym- 
metrical to its very brow, being well adapted to successful hus- 
bandry or beautiful horticulture. The near-by plateau, Martin's 
Hill, illumined by the rays of the morning and evening sun, sur- 
rounded by the dark shades of the wooded valleys below, pre- 
sented a pleasing picture. Mount Delight, overlooking the little 
bay at its foot and the broader blue of Lake Wentworth, added 
its charm to the scene, while the more distant hills and far-away 
mountains, whose cloud-capped tops hover the shores and island 
bedecked waters of Winnipesaukee, furnished views of unsur- 
passed loveliness. 

The lumber for constructing the buildings of the farm was 
probably manufactured on the premises, as there is evidence still 
existing that a saw-mill once stood on the Rye Field Brook. If 
not thus obtained, it must have been brought from the Cutter & 
Sewall mill, a distance of about five miles. It is said that the 
bricks of which the great chimneys were built were made at the 
foot of Smith's River falls of clay brought from Clay Point in 
Alton. They were then taken to Mast Landing, which is on a 
level with Lake Wentworth, and conveyed in a two-masted boat, 
called the Rockingham, to the place of destination. As the old 
inhabitants of Wolfeborough estimated it, they cost a fabulous 
sum, and no doubt they were quite expensive. It was not known 



88 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

then that there were several deposits of this earth within the hmits 
of the town. 

The line material for finishing the house and the furnishings 
were taken from Portsmouth to VVolfeborough by the only 
feasible route then existing between the two places, which was by 
gondolas or other river-craft to Dover, and from thence by teams 
to Merry Meeting Bay, a road from Rochester to that place hav- 
ing been opened by soldiers, who were acting as scouts to pro- 
tect the frontier settlements from the incursions of the Indians. 
Here the freight was taken by the governor's sloop to Wolfe- 
borough, where it was portaged above Smith's River Falls, and 
conveyed by water to the Wentworth Farm. 

There was another route from Portsmouth to the Wentworth 
House for travel only. It was the one usually, perhaps always, 
taken. It was as follows, the distance and stopping-places being 
given: from Portsmouth to Newington Ferry (Knight's), six 
miles; Dover (Hanson's), six; Rochester (Stephan Went- 
worth's), ten; Rochester (Roger's, now Hayes'), four; Middle- 
ton (Drew's, nov; Prescott's), ten; Middleton (Guppy's, since 
Buzzell's), one; Wentworth House, twelve. On the border of 
Middleton, near Wolfeborough line, dwelt Nicholas Austin. His 
home was afterwards known as the Hodge place. Here was the 
end of the road, until the Pequaket was opened. From Ports- 
mouth to Plummer's Ridge, then within the limits of Rochester, 
now a part of Milton, the governor's family rode in carriages, the 
remaining distance to the farm on horseback. Esquire Plummer 
usually accompanied the party on the latter part of the journey. 

In 1770 the governor's house, though not finished, was taken 
possession of by him and his family, as shown by the following 
extract from the "New Hampshire Gazette" : "Last Tuesday, His 
Excellency, our Governor, set out for his country seat on Win- 
nipiseogee pond, and we hear his lady sets out next week for the 
same place to reside during the summer season." 

During this and the four succeeding years it is probable that 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 89 

Governor Wentworth and his family spent a large portion of the 
warm seasons on the Wolfeborough plantation, engaged in clear- 
ing and improving the land, erecting and finishing buildings, en- 
tertaining friends, and securing for himself those enjoyments that 
a busy rural life would bring to a person of his tastes. 

The opportunities for recreation at the governor's establish- 
ment for denizens of the town were many. The stately moose 
and wary deer roamed in the surrounding forests, while an 
abundance of smaller game was found in its covers near the out- 
skirts of the cultivated fields. Lake Wentworth teemed with 
pickerel and other food fish, as did the hillside streams with the 
speckled trout. These were sources of wholesome and palatable 
food for the larder 

Jotham Rindge, the governor's factotum, let loose English 
pheasants in the woods, but they disappeared. He also put cusk, a 
salt water fish, into Lake Wentworth, but they evidently passed 
down Smith's River to the larger body of water. Lake Winni- 
pesaukee, where they have become habitats, and have stocked 
neighboring lakes and ponds with their kind. Within this decade 
they have also been caught in goodly numbers from Lake Went- 
worth ; these are probably the progeny of such as have been re- 
cently placed in that water. 

There were several favorite resorts about the farm for out-of- 
door dinners and teas. One was an island-rock in the southern 
part of Lake Wentworth, still called "Tea Rock," or "Governor's 
Rock." It was about forty feet long and twenty feet broad. 
Turtle Island, near the north shore of the lake, was also a feasting- 
place. This island was connected with the mainland by a narrow 
causeway. A large pine tree on Mount Delight was also a chosen 
spot for afternoon entertainments. 

The Wentworth Farm was essentially a watering-place, prob- 
ably the first in New Hampshire, perhaps the first in the country. 
It differed from those of the present time in this respect — it was 
not established for pecuniary profit, the entertainment of guests 



C)o HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

being entirely gratuitous. These consisted of the higher class of 
Portsmouth citizens and the especial friends of the governor. 
Among the latter was his college chum, Dr. A. R. Cutter, who 
usually accompanied him on his visits to the farm in the double 
capacity of companion and physician. 

The effect on the visitors to the farm was similiar to that which 
ordinarily takes place when residents of densely populated com- 
munities visit sparsely settled regions, and exchange the impure 
atmosphere of crowds for the invigorating oxygen of the forests 
and fields, and the dull hues of shaded walls for the bright foliage 
of the dells and the green of meadows — the muscles became more 
elastic and the spirits more buoyant, the staid conventionalisms 
of the town gave way to the unrestrained gaieties of the country. 
There have been numerous legendary tales concerning occur- 
rences at the farm, some of them being quite humorous, but as 
they are not fully authenticated, they may as well remain unre- 
corded, or be preserved only in the memory. 

There is, however, one event which took place at the Went- 
worth House that should be noticed. It is the marriage of 
Lemuel Cliftord, a farm-hand, and Betsy Fullerton, daughter of 
widow Mary Fullerton, a household domestic. The governor, at- 
tired in scarlet, tied the nuptial knot, while her ladyship, dressed 
in blue, honored the occasion with her presence. The feast, which 
was provided at the expense of the g'overnor, was sumptuous, and 
the company, which consisted of town guests, neighbors, and do- 
mestics, remained at the banquet until the wee hours of the next 
morning. 

This afifair caused the grateful husband to become devotedly 
attached to the governor and his interests. Not long afterward, 
however, he unconsciously did him a wrong. The newly married 
couple had made for themselves a home where the late Nathan 
Shackley's residence now stands. One day, in the absence of the 
husband, a deer came near the house, and was shot by the wife. 
On examination, a marked strap was found about the neck of the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



91 



animal, indicating that it had escaped from the park. Betsy, fear- 
ing her husband's displeasure, secreted the strap, and Lem. in- 
nocently feasted on the governor's venison. 

The governor's servants are said to have been much attached 
to him and careful of his interests. On one occasion he desired 
to send a live moose, recently captured, to the King of England 
as a present. It was fastened with a rope to a tree to render it 
more secure. In its struggles to escape, its neck was broken. 
A Scotchman named McDonald reported the affair to the gov- 
ernor, expressing regrets that his own neck had not been broken 
instead of that of the moose. 

In the governor's family were two adult negro slaves. They 
remained on the farm after his departure. The husband was sub- 
sequently killed by a rolling log, and the mind of the widowed 
Hagar becoming disordered, she took her son Remus, and wan- 
dered to New Durham, where she found a home in a kind fam'Iy 
named Willey. There are persons now living who can remenber 
seeing ihe aged negro, Remus Willey. 

The following letter, written by Lady Wentworth, is a graphic 
picture of Hfe at the farm : — 

Wentworth House, October 4th, 1770. 
My Dear Mrs. Langdon: 

I hope there requires nO' profusion of words to convince my dear 
Friend how very happy her obliging letter made me, as surely she must 
be sensible of the kindest feelings of my heart towards her, and, believe 
me, my dear Mrs. Langdon, I was extremely uneasy till I heard you got 
safe to Portsmouth. Mrs. Long told me you had met with some incon- 
venience at the Ferry, which really alarmed me exceedingly for you. 
However, I was soon quieted by receiving a line from you with mention 
of your health. The time you kindly spent with me in this solitary wil- 
derness has riveted a lasting impression of pleasure upon my mind; nor 
do I forget our tedious walks which the charms of the meadows scarcely 
made up for. I have taken but one since, and then lost both my shoes 
and came home barefoot. 

Mrs. Livius arrived here on Monday afternoon, and appeared nearly 
as tired as you was, but would not own it. 

She staid here three nights for fair weather, and at last went over the 



C)2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUaH. 

pond in a high gust of wind, which made a great sea and white caps as 
large as the Canoe. 

I was much afraid for her, but she got over quite safe. She told me 
you was unwell when she left town, and I am anxious to hear you are re- 
covered again. I wish you had tarried at Wolfeborough till you had 
established your health. Indeed, you ought to be mighty attentive to 
keep your mind easy and calm, or you will be often subject tO' indispo- 
sitions that will become mighty troublesome to you. I was pleased at 
all the intelligence you gave me; for although I live in the woods, I am 
fond of knowing what passes in the world. Nor have my ideas sunk in 
rural tranquility half enough to prefer a grove to a Ball-room. I wish 
you were here to take a game of Billiards with me, as I am all alone. 
The Governor is so busy in directions to his workmen that I am most 
turned hermit. 

The great dancing room is nearly completed, with the Drawing Room, 
and begins to make a very pretty appearance. I hope you will be here 
next summer with all my heart, and then our house will be more in order 
than it was when you last favored me with a visit, and less noise. For 
in fact my head is most turned with a variety of noises that is every- 
where about me, and I am hardly fit to bear it, as I have been in poor 
health ever since you left me, and am hardly able to live. However, 1 
hope to be stout now the winter comes on, as the summer never agrees 
with my constitution, which looks strong, but is quite slender. When 
Mrs. Loring left me, I gave her in charge your side saddle, which she 
promised to send home to you. I hope it was not forgot. If it was, 
it must have been left at Staver's tavern, and you can send for it, if you 
have not received it before this time. 

The cruel came safe, and I will trouble you for the worsted you men- 
tioned, as it will do just as well as English; and, if you please, one 
skein more of cruel, as we were much in want of it. 

I have done very little work since you went away; not because I was 
indolently disposed, but because you did so much in helping me that I 
have nothing to do. So now I read or play as I have a mind to do. I 
get but very little of my Governor's company. He loves to be going 
about, and sometimes (except at meals) I don't see him an hour ia a 
day. The season of the year advances so rapidly now that we begin to 
think of Winter Quarters, and I believe we shall soon get to town. I 
guess we shall set off about the time we proposed. You may easily think 
I dread the journey, as the roads are so bad, and I as great a coward as 
ever existed. I tell the Governor that he is unlucky in a wife having 
so timid a disposition, and he so resolute. For you know he would at- 
tempt, and effect if possible, to ride over the tops of the trees on Moose 
Mountain, while poor I even tremble at passing through a road cut at the 
foot of it. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



93 



Your little dog grows finely, and I shall bring him down with me. 
You never saw such a parcel of animals in all your life, and they have 
lessened poor Phyllis' courage down to a standard, for she can hardly 
crawl along. But I intend to send some of them off soon. We have 
given Mr. Livius one, and our neighbors all around are begging to have 
one, so that the stock will soon be lessened, and I intend to see that 
yours is the best taken care of amongst them. Mrs. Rindge seems now 
to falter in her intentions to spend the winter in town, but she says she 
is fixed on passing a month or so there. I believe it all a matter of un- 
certainty; for the roads are so precarious in the winter months, that 'tis 
impossible to fix on anything. Her baby seems to grow considerably and 
looks better than it did, so that I begin to think now she has a chance 
for his life. You know it looked in a great decline at the time you was 
with me. I am obliged for your charge to the House you lodged at on 
the road to be in readiness for our return. I desire things only a little 
clean ; for elegance is not to be found in the country. 1 hope Mr. Lang- 
don and your little ones are in health. I pray 'you'l present my best 
compliments to him, and tell him I hope the roads will be better next 
year to induce him to try another journey to Wolfeborough. The Gov- 
ernor has just come in, and says I must send a great many compliments 
to you and Mr. Langdon, and tell you he knows you'll forget how to eat 
beef at Portsmouth. Wolfeborough is the place to recover appetites and 
learn people to relish anything that is set before them. But adieu. I 
could write you all day, but am called on for my letter by Mr. Russel who 
is just setting out for his journey. This relieves you from the trouble 
of reading a long penned epistle from one who need not say she loves 
you; since you know you can command every friendship that flows from 
the heart and mind of 

your sincere Friend and very humble Servant 

Frances Wentworth 

Mrs. Langdon, to whom the above letter was written, was the 
wife of Hon. Woodbury Lang^don, who afterwards became gov- 
ernor of the state of New Hampshire. Mrs. Loring was a very 
intimate friend of Mrs. Wentworth's. They were about the same 
age, and were married the same year. Her husband was a native 
of Boston, Mass. They had a son, John Wentworth Loring, born 
the same year as was Governor Wentworth's son. Mr. Loring 
lost much property on account of his adhesion to the British gov- 
ernment. He died in England in 1789. Through the representa- 



Q4 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

tions of Lady Wentworth, his widow was placed on the Enghsh 
pension Hst. Mrs. Livius was the wife of Peter Livius of Ports- 
mouth, then a member of Governor Wentworth's council. She 
was en route to her husband's country establishment in Tufton- 
borough by way of Lake Wentworth and the Miles Road. Livius 
commenced operations on his land near Mirror Lake about the 
time Governor Wentworth began his enterprise in Wolfeborough. 
The delay in Mrs. Livius' journey on account of the state of the 
weather, and the passage across the water in "a. high gust of wind 
with white caps as large as the Canoe," is a vivid description of 
scenes and events familiar to the present inhabitants of the region, 
Mrs. Rindge was the wife of Isaac Rindge, the town proprietor 
who drew lot number five. Mr. Rindge, who was a cousin to the 
governor, and supposed to be friendly to the English in the time 
of the Revolutionary War, was not allowed to reside within fifteen 
miles of Portsmouth. It is probable that he retired to his farm in 
Wolfeborough. 

The governor and his family were at their town residence in 
November, as shown by the following : — 

"The Governor and Lady invite to 

TEA on Thursday next 

Mr. & Mrs. Langdon. 

Tea at five o'clock p. m. 

Portsmouth, Friday evening, Nov. 23, 1770." 

Until 1775 a large part of the warm seasons was spent by the 
governor and his family at the farm. This was probably his 
choice, although once in addressing the assembly, he assigns as a 
reason for so doing the inadequacy of his salary to enable him to 
live in town. Here, undoubtedly, he spent some of the happiest 
months of his life, being in a measure removed from official cares 
and perplexites and actively employed in the entertaining and in- 
vigorating business of husbandry, enlarging the area of cultivated 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOBOUGH. 



95 



land and in various ways improving- it. A man named Sherburne 
was hired to build stone fences, which were so well constructed 
that portions of them are still standing, and are known as the 
Sherburne walls. 

Two large orchards were planted. Fruit at that time was mostly 
native, and generally not of remarkably fine flavor. One apple 
grown on the farm became quite popular among the inhabitants 
of the town, and its product was considerably increased by graft- 
ing. It was a large, oval apple of a red color and a flavor which 
would not be considered particularly fine now. Its name was the 
"Farm Sweet." Better varieties have displaced it, and it is now 
seldom seen in the market. 

There was on the farm a pear tree that bore fruit of an ex- 
cellent quality, concerning which a ludicrous incident is told. A 
person who had a strong penchant for pears, and was not over- 
scrupulous in relation to the manner of obtaining them, en- 
deavored to secure some of these by converting his nether gar- 
ments into a sack and fiUing it with the coveted fruit. A sans 
culoite, he set out for home with his bagged booty. In crossing 
a pasture where a herd of cattle were grazing, a vicious bull espied 
him, and with loud bellowings gave chase. The purloiner, like an 
afifrighted politician, scurried to get on the safe side of the fence, 
in his haste scattering his plunder by the way. He succeeded in 
escaping bodily harm, minus the pears but saving the trousers. 

It seems from the following letter that Governor Wentworth 
had some idea of building a mill at the upper falls in Smith's 
River near where the excelsior mill occupied by Frank Hutchins 
now stands. The letter was written by David Sewall of York, 
Massachusetts (now Maine), attorney at law, to Dr. Ammi R. 
Cutter, practising physician at Portsmouth, N. H. They, by a 
grant of the town proprietors of Wolfeborough, were joint and 
exclusive owners of the water privilege and property referred to. 



96 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



"November ii, 1774. 

Sir : — Matthew Parker tells me as tho' Gov. Wentworth 
was about erecting a mill between our mill and the dam erected 
at the foot of Crooked Pond. If there be the place, I take it His 
Excellency has been somehow misinformed, for if we have any 
grant of a mill privilege from the proprietors, it includes all those 
falls. The words of our grant are, "the land and falls in Wolfe- 
borough called the mill priviledge," called the Falls, Stream, and 
appurtances, containing one hundred acres, together with a cer- 
tain island in Smith's Pond called Mill Island, supposed to con- 
tain 100 acres. Please inquire a little into the matter, &c. and 
prevent our entering into a controversy with His Excellency. 

Your Humble Servant, 

David Sewall. 
Dr. Cutter." 

Governor Wentworth visited the farm in the spring of 1775, 
probably as early as the season would permit. He remained only 
a short time, his departure being hastened by reports from Ports- 
mouth, where, as throughout the country, there was great excite- 
ment after the Battle of Lexington. New Hampshire had thus 
far been more quiet than most of the maritime provinces during 
the unhappy controversy then going on. This was, in part, due 
to the adroit management of the governor and his manifestations 
of kindliness to the members of the contending parties. No doubt 
he hoped by preserving a course of moderate conservatism to 
allay the prevailing disquietude, and, provided the British gov- 
ernment should adopt conciliatory measures, to assist in restoring 
harmony among the people. He said to his secretary, John Fer- 
nald, who accompanied him in his journey to town, "These con- 
tentions will soon cease, when I shall return to this sylvan abode." 
Sad disappointment awaited him. He was never again to behold 
the green fields he was then leaving. 

Before us, in rapid succession, appear the lonely journey, the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



97 



disordered town, the threatening populace, the stealthy flight, the 
dilapidated fortress, the armed vessel, the anxious waiting, the 
aimless wandering, and finally the Hfelong exile. The curtain 
drops. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Happenings at the Farm after the Governor's Departure 
— His Exile — Confiscation of Property — Personal 
Effects sold — The Cattle feed the Patriot Army — 
Plans ior disposing of the Estate — The Cabbotts' 
Purchase in 1782 — Daniel Raynard becomes the 
Owner — Division and Sale of Land — The Mansion- 
house burned — Sad Reflections — Trend of Develop- 
ment of the Land — The Future of the Farm. 

WHAT took place at the farm upon the departure of the gov- 
ernor is not now known. Probably for a while the affairs 
remained under the management of overseers who had been previ- 
ously in charge. The estate was practically insolvent, the ex- 
penditures having been very great and the income thus far com- 
paratively small. When Governor Wentworth left he took with 
him very few of his personal effects, only his plate and several 
horses from the fine stud which he possessed. After it became 
conclusive that he would not return to this country, his father, 
Mark Hunking Wentworth, attended to the interests of the estate. 
It is said that he settled the personal claims against his son. It 
was, perhaps, on this account that the assembly, April 17, 1780, 
passed a vote "directing Samuel Gilman, trustee of the Estate of 
the late Governor Wentworth, an absentee, to deliver to Mark 
Hunking Wentworth, Esq., all the furniture now in his hands at 
Portsmouth, also the family pictures at Wolfeborough." 

November 11, 1778, "John Wentworth, Esq., late governor of 
this state," and seventy-five other persons were forbidden by the 
legislature of the state to return to it without leave, under the 
penalty of transportation. A return to the state after transpor- 
tation subjected the person to the penalty of death. On the 
98 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. gg 

eighteenth day of the same month the estates of John Wentworth 
and twenty-seven others were forfeited to the use of the state. 
On the twenty-sixth of the following December the legislature 
decreed that all attachments of creditors on such confiscated 
estates were void. The committee to take possession of the con- 
fiscated estates, real and personal, in Strafford County, were Ma- 
jor Caleb Hodgdon, Mr. John Burnham Hanson, and Col. Joseph 
Badger. 

The committee on estates of absentees advertised for sale by 
public auction at Dover sundry articles, a part of the estate of 
Governor Wentworth. Among them were two fine weather- 
glasses and a valuable collection of books. The legislature, 
March 13, 1779, directed the committee to take the glasses and 
books to Exeter, that town being then practically the capital of 
the state. March 25 it was voted ''to postpone the sale of the 
confiscated books to a more convenient season." 

March 15, 1780, a committee was chosen by the legislature 
to consider the expediency of selling the Wentworth House and 
furniture, also the stock on the farm. April 19 the assembly 
voted "that the pasture at Wolfeborough, lately Governor Went- 
worth's, Be improved the current year for pasturing and faten- 
ing beef cattle for the supply of the continental army ; that the 
cattle on said farm at Wolfeborough that are, or may be soon 
fatted for beef, be reserved and fatted for the same purpose ; that 
Capt. Samuel Gilman, the trustee of the same Governor Went- 
worth estate, be directed to exchange any horse or horse kind, 
or any other cattle unfit for beef on said farm, for beef cattle for 
the same purpose ; that the pork, beef, corn, hogs and other 
provisions on said farm^ at Wolfeborough be reserved, and kept 
for the uses and purposes aforesaid." 

June 8 the assembly voted "that the sale of the late Governor 
Wentworth estate proceed according to advertisement," which 
was evidently at public vendue ; that the trustee sell the cattle and 
horses at thss same time. The conditions of the sale, prepared 



100 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

by a committee, were as follows: "that ten per cent on each 
purchase be paid down when the same is struck off, which is to 
be forfeited in case the other payments are not made as follows : 
that the remainder for the personal estate be paid when the same 
is delivered; that one-third of the remainder due for the real estate 
be paid in fifteen days, one-third in six weeks, and one-third in 
ten weeks after the sale ; that the trustee give a deed when the 
second payment is made, upon good security being given for the 
remainder." It is probable that little, if any, of the real estate was 
disposed of at the vendue, as on June 28th the assembly authorized 
the trustee to sell a lease of the farm on the best terms he could. 

November 14, 1781, the assembly voted "that Capt. Oilman 
sell no more of the Wentworth estate, until the further order of 
the general court." About this time the state of New Hampshire 
paid to the town of Wolfeborough for taxes on the Wentworth 
Farm over four hundred and nine pounds. March 20, 1782, the 
council voted "that the lands of the Governor Wentworth estate 
were so peculiarly circumstanced as to render the sale difficult 
at present, and that the trustee be directed not to make sale of any 
of the same until further order of the general court." 

Early in 1782 the Wentworth Farm came into the possession of 
two brothers, Andrew and John Cabbott, of Beverly, Mass., who 
purposed to make it a stock-farm, and eventually their home. 
They cleared and improved more land, and erected two barns and 
two other farm buildings. They alsobuilt a large structure to be used 
for a school house and residence for the teacher, towards which 
the mall from the mansion-house extended. The carpenter who 
constructed it was Deering Stoddard. Subsequently he and his 
descendants occupied it as a residence, and it was long known as 
the "Stoddard House." Recently it has been remodeled, and 
now is the home of Irving S. Oilman. 

When the Cabbotts took possession of the farm, it contained 
about three thousand acres of land. Its buildings were valued 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. lOI 

by the assessors at a goodly figure. They purchased fine breeds 
of horses and neat cattle, having, it is said, at one time twenty- 
five of the former and one hundred of the latter. John Martin, 
a brother of the late Isaac Martin, was superintendent of the farm. 
He held the position until 1785, when he returned to his home in 
Massachusetts. Deering Stoddard was superintendent for the 
next three years, until the return of Mr. Martin, who occu- 
pied the place until his death, which occurred in 1794. He 
was succeeded by Nathaniel Brown, who probably erected the 
Kendall house situated near Brookfield line. 

Soon after the Cabbotts purchased the farm, Andrew died. 
John never became a permanent resident of Wolfeborough, and in 
1794 he also died. In 1795 the estate came into the possession of 
E. Haskell Derby, of Salem, Mass., a Mr. Lane afterwards be- 
came a joint or sole owner, and it was known for a short time 
as the "Lane Farm." In 1805 it was nominally in the possession 
of one McDonough, 

In the autumn of 1805 or the spring of the following year, the 
Wentworth Farm was purchased by Daniel Raynard, of Boston, 
for seventeen thousand dollars. Mr. Raynard was a native of this 
country, but went to England for the purpose of learning the art 
of plaster and stucco work. He there married Margarette Whit- 
ton, a member of a family of some note in Yorkshire County, and 
returned to this country with his family. He established a busi- 
ness in Charlestown, Mass., and, it is said, owned three acres of 
land on Bunker Hill. He afterwards removed to Boston, where 
he was very successful. He became proficient in his art, and, 
tradition says, superintended the stucco work of the Massachusetts 
State House. He brought to Wolfeborough the first pleasure 
carriage owned in town. He sold three one-hundred-acre lots 
to George and John Whitton, l^rothers of his wife, and John 
Bowker, but did not reduce the area of his purchase very much. 
After residing in Wolfeborough several years, he visited Norfolk, 
Va., where he died, his family still remaining at the farm. 



102 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The settlement of the estate rendered a sale of a portion of 
the land necessary. One tract of four hundred acres was pur- 
chased by James Fernald, who soon after transferred a portion 
of it to his brother William. The latter erected buildings on it 
near the spot where the Whitton Road joins the Farm Road. The 
house has since been removed, and is now the residence of Thomas 
L. Whitton. On the Fernald farm was reared Jonathan P. Fer- 
nald, who was so long a resident of Center Wolfeborough as to 
give to that hamlet the name of Fernald's Corner. He was on the 
roof of the Wentworth House when it was burned, and in descend- 
ing from it received a permanent injury. 

Jonathan Poor Fernald was the son of William who married 
Betsy, the daughter of Phineas Johnson. He was born December 
I, 1797, and died April 21, 1893, aged ninety-six years. He 
married Mary, daughter of Robert Pike, of Middleton. His 
children were Maria, born December 16, 1822, married Orin 
Dixon; Mary E., bom December 12, 1824, married Joseph L. 
Dixon ; Hannah, born 1826, died young ; Hannah, born Novem- 
ber 29, 1829, married Joshua B. Haines ; Nancy H., born May 3, 
1832, married William T. Dorr ; Brackett, born December 24, 
1834, died young; Joan M., born August 30, 1837, married Samuel 
H. Buzzel ; James W., born July 24, 1839, married Sarah Higgins, 
of Cape Cod, Mass. ; Sophronia C, born October 10, 1841 ; 
Jonathan B., born March 11, 1S44, died June 23, 1867 ; Charles A., 
born December 5, 1847, married Eliza A. Acres of Boston. 

Mr. Fernald preserved his faculties to a remarkable degree up 
to the very time of his death. The writer of this work was greatly 
assisted by the information he was able to give so intelligently. 

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Raynard continued to 
manage the estate, occupying the Wentworth House until it was 
burned, in 1820. During the same year the large pine tree on 
Mount Delight, under whose branches the governor's family 
frequently took their mid-day meal, was destroyed by lightning, 
and the governor himself died. After the burning of the Went- 




JONATHAN P. FERNALD 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



103 



worth House, Mrs. Raynard occupied the "Stoddard House," 
until she and her son-in-law, Quimby, erected another on land 
still remaining in their possession at a considerable distance north 
of the mansion-house. Here they resided several years, when 
they exchanged it with Ichabod Libbey for real estate in Tufton- 
borough. Charles A. Whitton now occupies the premises. 

Thus ends the particular past history of the Wentworth Farm. 
Much of its area has still a sparse population, although there are 
within its limits valuable farms, owned by thrifty husbandmen. 
During the past century, on portions of it have grown heavy 
forests, which have been leveled by the woodman's axe. 

Sad thoughts may come to the visitor, as he looks on the 
scanty weather-stained debris lying in the old cellar, the dilapi- 
dated stone fences, the scraggy apple trees in the decaying 
orchards, the unkempt pastures where were once odorous gardens 
and fertile fields ; but the farm has a future of more promising 
utility than perhaps might have been the anticipated splendor of a 
propitious past. 

The keen vision of the land speculator has discovered its dawn- 
ing, and with a shrewdness characteristic of his class has already 
secured much of its territory for future profits. A considerable 
portion of its shore has been sold for camp sites and the idea of 
the original owner as to its desirability for summer residence pur- 
poses bids fair to be reaHzed. The time is coming when its 
environs will be appreciated ; when the shores and islands of 
Lake Wentworth will be dotted with cottages ; when a road will 
•be constructed, uniting existing highways, and furnishing a 
fifteen-mile drive through varied and beautiful scenery around that 
fine sheet of water ; and when the plain where stood the farm 
buildings, the eastern slope, the sides of Mount Delight, and the 
now lonely Farm Road will be the scene of bustling activity. The 
neighboring localities will share in the prosperity. Martin's 
Hill and Cotton Valley and Mountain, with their numerous 
natural attractions hitherto scarcely noticed by the tillers of the 



104 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

soil, will surprise the aroused inhabitants, when they discover 
the various sources of profit and pleasure that are at their very 
doors. These are not fanciful chimeras, but deductions from 
careful observations. So long as water flows, and grass grows, 
New Hampshire will be a favorite resort. Its mountains, hills, 
and valleys ; its lakes, ponds, and streams ; its lairs and fisheries ; 
its varied scenery, its invigorating air, will ever bring to it increas- 
ing multitudes. As facilities for travel shall improve, and art aid 
natural beauty, the number of visitors will become larger and 
the resources of the state increased. 

Probably no town in New Hampshire presents a greater variety 
of attractions than Wolfeborough. This is the universal testimony 
of those who come within its borders. The Wentworth Farm 
region has been remote from frequented roads, and subjected 
to constant neglect for a century ; at present it has unappreciated 
excellencies. When these are developed and utilized, as they 
eventually will be, it will be found that this is one of the most 
charming portions of the town. East Wolfeborough is destined 
to ultimately become a quite noted summer resort. Governor 
Wentworth chose wisely when he selected the locality for his 
rural abode. 



CHAPTER IX. 

First Settlers — Henry Rust clears Land — His Sons winter 
IN the Town — His Wife — A Sketch of his Life — 
Reuben Libbey — Settler's Lot — Parker's Agent — A 
Town Official, Soldier, and Bear Hunter — Paul 
March and his Contract — Location of the Seven 
Farms — The Fifty-acre Lots — The Lucas, Nowell, 
Avery, Manning, and Gould Interests — Second Farm 
— Samuel Tebbetts — Dudley L. Libbey — Blake Fol- 
soM — Daniel E. Leavitt — Third Farm — Joseph Lary 
— John Sinkler — Daniel Wiggin — Benjamin Web- 
ster — Fourth Farm — Thomas Piper sells Farm and 
settles on Fifty-acre Lot — Two Sons in the Revolu- 
tion — Timothy Piper's Family — John Piper's remark- 
able Family — Ebenezer Meader purchases Piper's 
Lot — Tpie First Pig arrives in Town — A Journey 
through the Forest — The Blacksmith — Fifth Farm 
— Thomas Taylor — First Male Child born — Ben- 
jamin FoLSOM — Jonathan Chase — A Centenarian — 
The Folsom Family — Sixth Farm — Benjamin Blake 
, — ^Jonathan and Daniel Blake — Seventh Farm — 
Widow Mary Fullerton — Two Soldiers — The Daugh- 
ters. 

THE same year in which Governor Wentworth commenced his 
enterprise at the farm, 1768, nine persons began settlements 
in the southwest part of Wolfeborough. They were Henry Rust, 
Reuben Libbey, James Lucas, Samuel Tebbetts, Joseph Lary, 
Thomas Piper, Thomas Taylor, Benjamin Blake, and William 
Fullerton. 

Henry Rust was one of the town proprietors, and had a lot in 
the southerly part of the town which has already been described. 

105 



I06 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

He did not at first take his entire family to Wolfeborough, nor 
did the portion that came remain throughout the whole year. He 
and his two sons, Henry and Richard, spent the warm seasons on 
the lot, clearing- land and raising crops, returning to their home 
in Portsmouth in the winter. He built a log camp and hovel in 
the northerly part of his lot. Here the sons, when twelve and 
fourteen years of age, remained alone during one winter, hav- 
ing an elderly horse with them for emergencies. Subsequently, 
while the captain and his sons were engaged in laboring in a dis- 
tant part of the lot, the camp was burned. 

It is not probable that Mrs. Rust came to Wolfeborough until 
1773, after her husband had provided for the family a commodious 
dwelling on the northerly shore of that beautiful sheet of water, 
since known as Rust's Pond. This house or the one succeeding 
it was called the ''Parker House." It was burned about 1880. 
It was with reluctance that Mrs. Rust exchanged the town home 
for a residence in the wilderness. She was quite obese, and could 
not journey on horseback, the early settlers' usual mode of travel- 
ing, but was compelled to ride in an ox-cart, that being the only 
wheeled vehicle then in use. 

Capt. Rust was so called from being a shipmaster. He made 
several short sea voyages after he commenced his farming opera- 
tions in Wolfeborough, while his family were still residing in 
Portsmouth. He was, however, more generally known as Col. 
Rust, this title indicating his military rank. After Mr. Rust had 
become established in Wolfeborough, he at once became its lead- 
ing citizen, largely controlling public affairs, and acting as arbiter 
between disagreeing persons and neighborhoods. A sketch of 
him and his family will appear farther on. 

Reuben Libby came from New Durham. He had a settler's 
lot of one hundred acres of John Parker, whose proprietary lot 
comprised the whole of Wolfeborough Neck. Libby chose the 
lot that extended farthest into the lake that he might be near the 
water route from Merry Meeting (Alton) Bay to Moulton- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 107 

borough, some settlements having already been made in that 
town. He had the previous year made some preparations for a 
crop, and took with him a horse and a few neat cattle. He married 
Sarah, daughter of Widow Mary Fullerton. This was the first 
marriage that occurred in Wolfeborough. The nuptial ceremony 
was performed under the branches of a large oak tree that stood 
beside the Miles Road on land now owned by Benjamin Morri- 
son. 

Libby was quite illiterate, as were nearly all the persons who 
took up settlers' lots in Wolfeborough. The following writing 
will show that, also that he was managing Parker's afifairs in the 
town : — 

"Barronton July 26 Day 1771. 

Capte. John Parker Sir Please to Pay to the Barer Joseph Hall 
ten Pounds LawfuU Money for won yoak of oxen which I have 
Bought for the youse of your farm on Wolfborough Neck. 

Reuben Libbe." 

Notwithstanding his lack of education, Libbey was quite active 
in town matters, and held several responsible positions. He was 
a member of several boards of selectmen, and in 1785 and 1794 
was sent to the legislature to represent the classed towns of 
Moultonborough, Tuftonborough, Wolfeborough, and Ossipee. 
He held the different grades of commissioned officer in the militia 
company of the town, and in 1779 enlisted in the army to fill the 
Wolfeborough quota for the Rhode Island expedition. He had 
previously agreed with the town authorities to hold the town 
harmless in regard to the matter, and being unable to find a man 
willing to serve as a soldier, he himself enlisted. He received 
for bounty and travel forty-six pounds and sixteen shillings, a 
sum, the real value of which it is noAV difficult to determine on 
account of the fluctuating state of the currency at that period. 
His hay crop was to be harvested by the town. 



I08 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

In early life Libbey was a noted bear hunter, killing- thirty-six 
in one season. He did not remain on the Neck farm during* his 
whole life, but removed to the more compact part of the town. 
Near the close of the century he held the office of deputy sheriff. 
a position of more relative importance than it now is. He is 
said to have been quite negligent in his attire, caring little for 
his personal appearance. A humorous anecdote has long- been 
circulating, which, it is claimed, had its origin from an exhibition 
of this characteristic. 

In the autumn of 1765 Paul March agreed with the committee 
on settlements to have ten families located in Wolfeborough by 
the following spring. Each family was to clear four acres of land 
and to build a house equal to one twenty feet square by the suc- 
ceeding autumn. Doing this, it would be entitled to one hundred 
and fifty acres of land situated in the westerly part of the town. 
If March succeeded in the enterprise, he would be entitled to a 
similar lot. If he failed, he was to forfeit his own proprietary lot, 
and pay twenty-five pounds, lawful money. Each settler was 
obligated to remain on his lot ten years, either in person or by 
substitution, and improve the same. 

The project failed in part, but not altogether. Seven families 
came to the town in the spring of 1768 under the patronage of 
March, but the number of settlers was not so large, nor the 
period before settling so short, as the agreement required. March 
did not probably suffer loss on account of non-compliance with 
the precise terms of the contract, as the obstacles in the way of se- 
curing settlers was so great at that time that a partial failure 
would be deemed excusable. 

Wolfeborough was a wilderness, surrounded by an almost un- 
broken forest of large extent, with no roads from settled districts 
reaching or very nearly approaching it, excepting, perhaps, a path 
leading from Rochester through the second division of Middleton, 
and it is not certain that any such existed. A census of New 
Hampshire was taken in 1767, and only two towns within a radius 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



109 



of twenty miles reported inhabitants. These were Gihnanton 
with forty-five famiHes and a population of two hundred and fifty, 
and New Durham with twenty-five families and a population of 
one hundred and fifty-seven. There were a very few families in 
Moultonborough, also in Wakefield, and possibly one or two at 
Merry Meeting-. Land was low-priced in New Hampshire even 
in or near settled towns, and comparatively few persons were in- 
clined to brave the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life. 
Only the more indigent or resolute could be induced to under- 
take it. 

The persons who took settlers' lots in 1768 under the patronage 
of March were James Lucas, Samuel Tebbetts, Joseph Lar>', 
Thomas Piper, Thomas Taylor, Benjamin Blake, and William 
Fullerton. The land which became their home farms, seven hun- 
dred acres, extended from the rangeway near Friend street to 
and including the Fullerton farm, being bounded on one side by 
the Miles Road and on the other by Lake Winnipesaukee. The 
fifty-acre lots, to one of which each settler was entitled, were 
situated on Pine Hill, north of the present highway, and extended 
from Pine Hill schoolhouse to Tuftonborough line. The farm- 
lots varied in width on account of their difference in length occa- 
sioned by the curvatures of the shore of the lake. 

The first, or most easterly lot, was fifty-six rods wide. It was 
taken by James Lucas. Associated with him was Thomas Lu- 
cas, who was probably a brother. They were about fifty years of 
age, and had each of them a family. James was a moderator of 
the first town-meeting ; and Thomas, a member of the first board 
of selectmen. The latter was also elected moderator five times. 
The family was of Irish ancestry, and came from Suncook to 
Wolfeborough. Its descendants became quite numerous, and 
occupied different portions of the town. It retained possession 
of the farm for two generations, when it was purchased by Samuel 
Nowell, whose family occupied it for a period of about the same 
length. One-half of it then came into the possession of two 



J JO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

brothers, A. D. and J. L. Avery, the former of whom still holds it. 
The remaining half was purchased in 1883 from the heirs of 
Charles Nowell, a grandson of Samuel, by I. B. Manning, who 
now occupies the old homestead and the house Lucas built. One 
acre of this land has been sold to Jesse Gould, who has erected 
a handsome summer residence upon it. Either this Samuel Nowell 
or his father was a member of the famous Boston Tea Party. 

Nehemiah, a son of James Lucas, settled on the most southerly 
of the fifty-acre lots on Pine Hill. A rise of land near the buildings 
now occupied by Jonathan F. Estes is still called "Miah's Hill." 
In the latter part of his life he was afflicted with blindness, the 
result of an injury received from the horn of a cow, and was sup- 
ported at the public expense. 

A grandson of James Lucas, James Lucas 3rd, obtained a con- 
siderable tract of land from the William Torrey proprietors' lot. 
It extended from the main road, near Pickering's Corner, across 
Smith's River, to Crooked Pond. A few acres near the upper 
dam, bequeathed to Mark Lucas by his father, James Lucas, 3rd, 
is still in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Francis B. Cook. 
The blood of the Lucas family flows in the veins of many persons 
in the vicinity, but very few having that cognomen now reside in 
the town. 

The second lot, fifty rods wide, was taken by Samuel Tebbetts. 
On it was built the first pound, Mr. Tebbetts being pound-keeper 
for several years. He was a millwright and framer, the town 
meeting-house being framed by him. The Tebbetts family held 
the place for three generations, when it became the property of 
Dudley Leavitt Libbey. It is now owned by Blake Folsom, and 
conducted as a milk-farm by his nephew, Blake Home. On a 
spacious lot affording fine landscape views, which has been taken 
from this farm, Daniel E. Leavitt, of Portsmouth, has erected a 
fine summer residence. Samuel Tebbetts had two sons, Benjamin 
and Levi. The latter settled in Tuftonborough, while Benjamin 
remained on the home farm, where he raised a family of children. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. m 

among- whom was Charles G. Tebbetts, who sold the farm to 
Libbey. There are several families in town bearing the name of 
Tebbetts. Some of them may be relatives of Samuel, the settler, 
but generally they are not at all closely allied. 

The third lot, also fifty-five rods wide, was taken by Joseph 
Lary. Three families of this name came early to the town from 
Suncook, Joseph's, Jonathan's, and John's. They were evidently 
of Irish origin, and were probably related, the men, perhaps, be- 
ing brothers. Joseph's wife was the daughter of Lieutenant 
Charles Rogers, who spent the last years of his life with her. She 
was an athletic woman, and when the house for the occupancy 
of the family, the walls of which were made of logs, was in pro- 
cess of building, carried the boards used in roofing an up-hill 
grade of more than a mile. 

Joseph and Jonathan Lary were quite prominent in the aflfairs 
of the town, holding several important official positions. Jonathan 
afterwards removed to the center of the town, where he was in- 
strumental in erecting a sawmill on what is known as the Willey 
Mill Stream. He remained there several years, and then, dis- 
posing of his interest to WiUiam Triggs, left town. This mill 
was at first erected by sundry persons, who owned shares, but 
was principally managed, — first, by Jonathan Lary ; then, by Wil- 
liam Triggs ; and afterwards, by Valentine Willey. The mill was 
finally sold to Valentine B. Willey, who is its present owner. At 
different periods it has borne the names of the various proprietors. 

It has been supposed that the Lary premises were wholly or 
in part occupied by John Sinkler, who came from Stratham about 
1770, and that he here kept a two-roomed tavern. The farm, how- 
ever, was in Lary's possession at a later date, when he sold it to 
Daniel Wiggin, who also came from Stratham. Wiggin died 
suddenly, when comparatively young. His grand-daughter, the 
wife of Benjamin Webster, now dwells on the farm. 

The fourth lot, which was fifty-four rods wide, was settled by 
Thomas Piper, who probably came from Stratham. After two 



112 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

years he sold it to Ebenezer Meader, and removed to the "Mills," 
where Cutter & Sewall had just completed a grist-mill. He re- 
mained there a few years, becoming- the miller, then entered on 
his fifty-acre lot on Pine Hill. Here he built a house, and cleared 
land. This was his residence until his death, which occurred sev- 
eral years afterwards. It is said that he served in the army dur- 
ing one short campaign, and that his wife, during his absence, used 
to frighten the bears from the growing corn with torches. 

Mr. Piper had seven children, Thomas, David, Samuel, 
Timothy, John, Mary, and Susan. David and John were soldiers 
in the army during the most of the war, the latter enlisting when 
he was only sixteen. David married Molly Edmunds, and settled 
on the farm now occupied by Mrs. B. Burleigh Newell. He had 
five children, Joseph, Sally, Abigail, Susan, and Mary. Timothy 
had twelve children, all of whom reached mature, some of them, 
advanced age. They are said to have averaged two-hundred 
pounds in weight. He settled in Tuftonborough. 

John spent the first portion of his Hfe on Pine Hill, but the 
greater part of it near Tuftonborough Center. He was twice mar- 
ried. His first wife was Jemima Hersey, of New Market. She 
bore him ten children, as follows : 

John, born August i, 1783; Betsy, born May 15, 1785, died in 
1802; James, born March 14, 1787; Thomas, born March 29, 
1789; Oilman, born February 26, 1791 ; William, born January 
24, 1793; Nancy, born October 11, 1794, married Jeremiah Foss, 
of Tuftonborough ; Mary, born May 2, 1797, married Mark Her- 
sey, of Sanbornton ; Abigail, born May 26, 1799, married William 
Fullerton ; Jemima, born January 4, 1803, married Samuel Leavitt 
and Wm. Blaisdell, both of Tuftonborough. 

Betsy died at the age of seventeen years of consumption 
brought on by a cold occasioned by wearing a thin ball-dress in 
winter. She was the fiancee of James Hersey, the second son of 
Jonathan, the settler. The sons, John, James, Thomas, Oilman, 




HON. CHARLES F. PIPER 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



113 



and William, became farmers, and made their homes in Tufton- 
borough. 

Mr. Piper married for a second wife, Anna Young, of Tufton- 
borough. She became the mother of eleven children, as follows : 

Phebe A., born August 10, 1804, married Stephen Pendergast, 
of Barnstead ; Paul W., born September 17, 1805, settled in Mor- 
ristown, N. J. ; Susan W., born October 26, 1806, married Joseph 
Ayers, of Barnstead ; Betsey A., born January 8, 1808, married 
Oliver Sanborn, of Rochester ; Lucinda C.,born July 24, 1809, mar- 
ried Charles Pinkham and Abel Haley, both of Tuftonborough ; 
Napoleon B., born November 28, 1810, died in St. Marks, Fla. ; 
Martha W., born February 6, 1812, married Nathaniel Mason; 
Sarah H., born May 20, 1813, married Levi T. Hersey; Patience 
C, born October 15, 1814, married Asa Allen, of Lee; Benjamin 
Y., born April 29, 1816, settled in Lee ; Vienna E., born January 
16, 1821, married Lyman Allen, of Nottingham. 

These twenty-one children, with the exception of the first 
Betsy, reached full adult age. Nineteen became heads of families, 
and eighteen were present at the burial of their father. Several 
of them became quite advanced in years. Sarah, Mrs. Levi T. 
Hersey, was eighty-six years nine months old at the time of her 
death, and Benjamin Y., aged eighty-five years, still survives. 

Hon. Charles F. Piper is a son of Benjamin Y., the twentieth 
son of the "Adjutant," as his neighbors used to call Corporal John 
Piper. Though not a native of Wolfeborough, Mr. Piper has 
spent nearly all his active life here and has done as much as any 
man of his generation to forward the interests of the town. 

He was born in Lee, N. H., May 22, 1849, ^"d ^^^^ came to 
Wolfeborough in 1866 to attend the old Academy. At the con- 
clusion of his studies he went to Boston and entered the employ 
of a wholesale dry goods house. His firm was among the suf- 
ferers by the great fire of 1872, and he then entered the railway 
mail service, running between Boston and Bangor. He followed 
this calling for something over four years and in the meantime 



114 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

had purchased the clothing business of Levi T. Haley and had 
taken to himself a wife. He married December lo, 1874, Ida E., 
daughter of Silas Durgin. After leaving the mail service Mr. 
Piper assumed active control of the clothing business he had pur- 
chased, and he is still associated with the firm that succeeded him. 

Mr. Piper was postmaster during the Hayes, Garfield, and 
Arthur administrations, and in 1890 became cashier of the newly 
organized Wolfeborough Loan and Banking Company, which 
position he still holds. He has had an active hand in poHtics not 
only of his town, but of the county and state. He has not been 
a seeker after office, although he has held the positions of town 
clerk, town treasurer, representative and councillor. 

In recent years Mr. Piper has operated somewhat extensively 
in lumbering and real estate. He is a member of the firm of S. W. 
Clow & Co., box manufacturers, and in association with other 
gentlemen controls valuable resort properties on the shores of 
Lake Winnipesaukee and Wentworth. The marked develop- 
ment of these holdings within the past decade is due in no small 
degree to the liberal and progressive basis upon which the owners 
have met the summer home-seeker. 

A descendant in the fourth generation from the settler, Mr. 
Piper has preserved in his life and character the best traditions of 
a worthy family, of which he is today the most notable repre- 
sentative. Carroll D., the only child, born May 29, 1880, is a 
member of the junior class at Harvard. 

Ebenezer Meader (he and his associates spelled the name 
Meder) was of the fourth generation from the emigrant John, 
who came to this country in 1650, and settled near Oyster River. 
He was born in Durham, and came to Wolfeborough in 1768. 
He first made an opening on a lot in the western part of the 
town, but not obtaining a clear title to it, lost a portion of the 
fruits of his first year's labor. In 1770 he purchased the lot on 
which Thomas Piper had entered as settler, and the farm has ever 
since remained in the possession of the family, passing from 




JOHN MEADER 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. Hg 

Ebenezer to his son, Samuel , his grandson, John L. ; his great- 
grandson, Samuel A., the present occupant. 

Mr. Header took with him from Durham a cow and pig, gifts 
from his father. The course of travel from Wolfeborough to 
Merry Meeting Bay, and from that place a considerable distance 
into Rochester, was marked by blazed trees, portions of the sol- 
dier's road of 1722 having through disuse grown up to wood. 
Here young Header picked his way with his brute companions. 
It has been claimed that these were the first domestic animals 
brought to Wolfeborough. This may be true in relation to the 
pig, but Reuben Libbey, no doubt, drove in the first neat and 
equine stock. 

Header was a blacksmith, a trade of incalculable value to the 
early settlers, when from large iron bars were forged and fashioned 
on the anvil with the hand-hammer every article of that metal, 
from a shingle-nail to a plow-share. Persons came a long dis- 
tance to his shop. At one time, when the call for soldiers was 
very urgent, and he essayed to enlist, the town hired Enoch 
Thomas to go into the army, in order that the community might 
retain the services of the blacksmith. He made the nails used in 
constructing the house, until recently, standing on Friend Street. 
He was a man of good judgment, and held important positions, 
being elected selectman six times. 

He had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. His son, 
Samuel, had eight children ; his grandson, John L., four ; and his 
great-grandson, Samuel A., three. These were all born on the 
home farm. The families of the ancestors of Ebenezer Header 
were quite uniform in number. The emigrant John, his great- 
grandfather, had five children, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nathaniel, John, 
and Nicholas ; his grandfather, Nicholas, five, Keziah, Samuel, 
Nicholas, John, and Daniel ; his father, Samuel, five, Timothy, 
Ebenezer, Isaac, Hannah, and Eliza. * 

The fifth lot was sixty rods wide. It was taken by Thomas 
Taylor, who came from Gilmanton, and after residing in Wolfe- 



Il6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

borough a few years, returned again to that town. His son, 
Wiggins Taylor, was the first male child born in Wolfeborough. 

Benjamin Folsom, who was born in New Market in 1740, and 
had removed to Gilmanton, either accompanied Taylor to Wolfe- 
borough, or soon followed him. He was present at the charter 
election, held September 28, 1770, and was elected to a minor 
town office. He was also elected a town officer in 1771 and 1772. 
In 1773 he was chosen hog-reeve, highway surveyor, and chairman 
of the board of selectmen, his associates in the last office being 
Thomas Taylor and James Conner. Sometime after September 
of that year he was killed by a falling tree, but whether in Gilman- 
ton or Wolfeborough is not known. Being a carpenter by trade 
and an active citizen, his death was accounted a great loss to the 
town. 

When Taylor left Wolfeborough, the farm came into the posses- 
sion of Jonathan Chase, who hailed from Stratham. He was a 
relative of Dudley Leavitt, "the almanac-maker," and had served 
as soldier in the American army. Here was born, July 28, 1784, 
his daughter Nancy, who married William P. Edgerly, and bore 
him six children, Betsy, Jerome B., Irena, Lewis C, William P., 
and Cyrus F. Mrs. Edgerly was a remarkably industrious and 
energetic woman, and a professing Christian for ninety years. 
She retained her mental faculties until late in life. Her death 
occurred January 26, 1889, at the age of one hundred and four 
years, five months, and twenty-eight days. Her daughter, Irena, 
(Mrs. Bradstreet Doe), with whom she spent the last years of 
her life, still resides in Wolfeborough, aged eighty-seven years. 

Jonathan Chase spent several years with his son Thomas, who 
settled in the southwesterly corner of Wolfeborough, where he 
cleared a farm on which he built two thousand rods of good stone- 
wall during his lifetime. Mr. Chase finally made a home near the 
center of Wolfeborough. Dudley Leavitt Chase and his wife, 
Mary, January 6, 1789, gave to William Rogers a deed of the 
Chase lot with the exception of one and one-quarter acres previous- 




< 



UJ 

5 

O 

I 

cc 

UJ 

a 
< 



a 

_i 
o 



cr 

LLl 

Q 
< 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



117 



ly sold to Ebenezer Header, the consideration being one hundred 
and lifty pounds, lawful money. Rogers, who speculated somewhat 
in land, probably the same year transferred the property to Jacob 
Folsom, of New Market. 

Folsom with his wife, Elizabeth Smart, at once took possession 
of the purchase, and it has been retained in the family to the 
present time. Mr. Folsom had eight children, seven of whom 
were born in Wolfeborough. Their names were Oilman, Polly, 
Lydia, James, John, George, Henry, and Charles. Polly became 
the wife of Joseph Edmunds, and died at the age of ninety-sever, 
years, the same age as was her mother at the time of her decease. 
Mrs. Hannah Folsom, who was the wife of Deacon John, a son of 
Jacob Folsom, had since died, aged ninety-eight years. It is 
remarkable that there have been in some way connected with this 
farm four women whose ages have exceeded ninety-seven years. 

The first Folsom (Foulsam) came to this country near the 
beginning of the seventeenth century. The early families gen- 
erally made their homes in Rockingham County, and especially 
in the vicinity of the town of Exeter. Here dwelt Nathaniel 
Folsom, who was quite prominent in his time, being a major- 
general and member of congress. 

The Folsom family has not produced a large number of dis- 
tinguished persons, but its members have been men and women. 
of piety and good citizenship. It has filled churches rather than 
prisons. Indeed, it is a proverb that a criminal seldom bears the 
name of Folsom. Large numbers of clerg)^men, usually of the 
mediocre type, and church of^cers have been found in its ranks. 
Jacob Folsom, the head of the Wolfeborough branch, was on inti- 
mate terms with Elder Benjamin Randall, of New Durham, the 
founder of the Freewill Baptist denomination. His son, John 
Folsom, whose wife, Hannah Blake, large of body and large of 
soul, was a model of zeal in religious and benevolent work, was 
a deacon in the Christian church of Wolfeborough. Blake Fol- 



jj8 history of wolfeborough. 

som, a lifelong resident of Wolfeborough, is the most prominent 
representative of the family at the present time. 

He was born October 25, 1824, and lived on the home farm 
until twenty years of age, when he started out to make his own 
way in the world. Seven years later he returned to his native 
town, opened a hardware store and began the manufacture of tin- 
ware. This business he successfully conducted for thirty years. 
Since that time he has devoted himself to the oversight of his 
large real estate holdings. Mr. Folsom married, December 6, 
185 1, Ruth D. Gerrish, of Rochester. He has served two terms 
in the Legislature and was for eight years president of the Lake 
National Bank. 

The sixth lot, which was seventy rods wide, was taken by 
Benjamin Blake, who came from Epping. Being anxious to be 
the first settler, he hurried to the town, and with the aid of his 
robust wife, whose maiden name was Molly Conner, built a log 
house, in which he lived eighteen years. This farm has never 
been out of the possession of the Blake family. 

Mr. Blake was a hardy and eccentric man, many anecdotes of 
his peculiarities being still related. In the warm season, when 
hurried with work, he would remain in his field continuously for 
several days and nights, sleeping on the ground, his food being 
brought him by his wife. In winter mornings, after kindling a 
fire, he would place his deerskin garments, stififened with the cold, 
on the broad hearthstone, and while they were warming, visit 
the barn and feed his stock. He enlisted as a soldier in the cam- 
paign which resulted in the capture of Burgoyne's army, and 
being discharged in the interior of the state of New York, walked 
barefoot to his home in Wolfeborough from choice. 

There was some rivalry between Blake and his brother-in-law, 
James Conner, in relation to their farm work. One day near the 
close of the hay harvest, Conner visited Blake, who informed 
him that he had finished mowing, and should complete his haying 
the next day. Conner still had grass standing in his field. That 



^ 




BLAKE FOLSOM 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



119 



night he cut the standing- grass and put it in the barn. Early the 
next day he visited Blake, and told him that he had "done Hay- 
ing." 

Mrs. Blake became distinguished as an acconcheuse. It was 
a common saying that she had been present at a thousand births. 
This may have been an exaggeration, but was probably not far 
from a truthful statement, as at that time most households had 
a large number of children. Her popularity gave her a large field 
of practice, which she held for a long period, as no physician 
commenced business in Wolfeborough until near the close of the 
eighteenth century. She was a brave and vigorous woman, and 
neither difficult traveling or inclement weather could deter her 
from heeding duty's call. In cases of emergency she would put 
on her snow-shoes, and give her anxious companion a close race 
over the drifted roads. In many cases of ordinary sickness she 
applied simple remedies quite effectively. 

Jonathan, their oldest son, became very prominent in Wolfe- 
borough affairs, holding most of the important offices within the 
bestowal of its citizens. In early life he was an uncommon ax- 
man. While clearing a portion of Joseph Varney's farm he was 
accustomed to fell an acre of trees in a day. Perhaps in this case 
the ax-blows were more vigorous than usual, because just across 
the highway was the home of Polly, the daughter of Andrew 
Lucas, his affianced bride. In middle and advanced Hfe Mr. 
Blake was very dignified in his manners, and, possessing a com- 
manding physique and voice, was very popular as a moderator 
of town meetings. He was elected to that office many times. It 
is said that his whisper was sufficient to quiet a crowd of frolic- 
some boys or half-tipsy men, and that his sonorous "Order" 
would produce in a town meeting assembly a silence that was 
actually painful. He died at an advanced age, respected as a 
citizen and honored with much public office. The Blakes have 
been generally large-sized, a physical trait which they inherited 
from the Conners. Daniel, a son of Jonathan, weighed 300 lbs. 



J20 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The seventh lot was seventy rods wide. It was taken by Wil- 
liam Fullerton. He was drowned a short time after his arrival 
in Wolfeborough while crossing Smith's River on a fallen tree 
used for a foot-bridge. The lot was given to his widow, who 
was a very energetic woman. On it she raised eight children, one 
of whom was born after the decease of her husband. The name, 
"Widow Mary Fullerton," was seen for many years on the annual 
town inventory. Two of her sons, John and James, were in the 
Revolutionary War. John, before becoming a soldier, took a 
settler's lot in the western corner of Wolfeborough, as it was then 
bounded. He raised a house-frame on it, through which, while 
he was in the army, trees of considerable size grew up. On his 
return home he found his claim to the lot forfeited because of 
his non-compliance with the terms of settlement. He, however, 
repossessed it, and it remained his home during a long life. 
James remained on the home farm with his mother. After her 
decease he obtained possession of it, and its ownership has never 
gone out of the Fullerton family. 

William Fullerton, a son of the widow, settled on the Fullerton 
Pine Hill fifty-acre lot. He subsequently sold it to a member of 
the Jonathan Hersey family, and it has ever since been in the 
possession of some person of that name. Mrs. William Hersey 
now occupies it. 

The Widow FuUerton's children were John, Sarah, wife of 
Reuben Libbey, Mary, James, William, Betsy, wife of Lemuel 
Clifford, Samuel, and Jane. Samuel died young. A number 
of the later generations of the Fullerton family have been resi- 
dents of Wolfeborough. They have generally followed the busi- 
ness of farming, and have been fairly thrifty. 



CHAPTER X. 

Other Settlers — ^Jacob Sceggel — His Son and Grandson — 
Aaron Frost — His Encounter with a Bear — Grafton 
Nutter — John Flag — Jotham Rindge — Robert Calder 
— ^James Conner — Enoch Thomas — Andrew Wiggin — 
Jonathan Hersey — John Parker — Matthew S. Park- 
er — Henry Rust Parker — Moses and Ichabod Tebbetts 
— George Woodhouse — Thomas Triggs — ^Joseph Kenis- 
TON — Samuel Hide — Joseph Leavitt — Abram Prebble. 

IT is not known that any other permanent settlers came to 
Wolfeborough in 1768 than those already noticed. There was 
a large number of laborers on the governor's farm, which em- 
braced one-half of the territory in the northeastern part of the 
town, but most of them had no thought of becoming permanent 
residents. A few did, however, make homes for themselves in the 
town. In 1769 Jacob Sceggel, Aaron Frost, John Flagg, Grafton 
Nutter, and Ithiel Clifford became residents of the town. Jotham 
Rindge and Robert Calder, who were connected with the Went- 
worth Farm, resided in the town for some time, the former 
leaving at the time of the departure of Governor Wentworth, and 
the latter remaining a number of years longer. Within a brief 
period the following persons became citizens : James Conner, 
Enoch Thomas, Jeremiah Gould, Andrew Wiggin, Moses Ham, 
Jonathan Hersey, Matthew S. Parker, Moses Tebbetts, Ichabod 
Tebbetts, George Woodhouse, Samuel Woodhouse, Thomas 
Triggs, Joseph Keniston, Samuel Hide, Joseph Leavitt, and 
Abram Prebble. 

Joseph Sceggel, who assisted in cutting the Pequaket Road, 
settled near Trask Mountain. He was elected one of the board of 
selectmen at the organization of the town in 1770 and re-elected 



122 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

in 1771. His son, James, and his grandson, James, Jr., held the 
same office in after years. They had their homes in the northerly 
corner of Wolfeborough, near Batson's Pond, away from the 
public highway. 

Aaron Frost, who was a shipwright, came from Portsmouth. 
He had a settler's lot of one hundred acres (two hundred rods 
by eighty rods) of George Meserve, the deed of which is dated 
September 22, 1769. He located at what is now known as Frost's 
Corner, and also assisted in cutting the Pequaket Road. He was 
a person of great strength and endurance, and became a notable 
hunter. Taking a small quantity of meal and salt, his traps, gun, 
and ammunition, he would for weeks together hunt game in the 
mountains. He once had a desperate encounter with a large she- 
bear just robbed of her cubs. He espied her swimming in Lake 
Wentworth, and seizing a wooden lever, met her before she 
reached the shore. She seemed in no ways inclined to avoid the 
combat, and for a while "the battle hung in even scale." At 
length brute force was obliged to yield to human sagacity, and 
the intrepid hunter secured his prize. He took a load of clap- 
boards on a hand-sled to Dover and exchanged them for a grind- 
stone, which he brought home himself, performing the journey 
of seventy miles in two days. His family of children, which was 
quite large, settled near him. Few of this name now reside in 
Wolfeborough. 

Grafton Nutter was one of the three persons who assisted in 
cutting the Pequaket Road. He settled on the hill where after- 
wards dwelt Alpheus Swett, and where was located the town 
farm, north of the Miles Road. 

John Flagg, who was a man of property and influence, came 
from Portsmouith. He obtained possession of four hundred 
acres of land in the westerly part of the town. This was bounded 
by the Widow FuUerton lot, Lake Winnipesaukee, the John Ful- 
lerton lot, and the Miles Road. In 1779 he exchanged this land 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. I23 

with Ebenezer Home for real estate in Dover. He held the office 
of town clerk in 1771. and of town clerk and selectman in 1772. 

Ithiel Cliflord settled near where Augustine Fullerton now 
resides. In 1771 he was elected constable, and in 1772 a surveyor 
of highways and one of the board of selectmen. 

Jotham Kindge was probably a relative of Governor Went- 
worth. He was a town proprietor, drawing lot one, which became 
a part of the Wentworth Farm. He was authorized by the gov- 
ernor to call the charter meeting of the inhabitants of the town of 
Wolfeborough, and was elected the first town clerk. He had the 
general superintendency of affairs at the Wentworth Farm, and 
probably left Wolfeborough at about the time of the governor's 
enforced departure. 

Robert Calder, of Scotch descent, was the gardener at the Went- 
worth Farm. He had a house at Cotton Valley, near the spot 
where stands the residence of the late Elder George C. Cotton. 
The door-stone of this house has only recently been removed. 
It was in this neighbrohood that the governor's park was prob- 
ably situated. 

Calder remained in Wolfeborough several years after the de- 
parture of Governor Wentworth, and was a quite active citizen. 
He was several times elected selectman, and was one of the town 
committee of safety in 1775. He was of a jovial turn, had a faculty 
for rhyming, and was familiarly known as "Bob Calder." He 
removed from Wolfeborough to Wakefield, where he kept store 
for a short time, and built a tavern, which he soon sold. He 
eventually made his home in Brookfield, living on the hill beyond 
the Hackett schoolhouse, on the road leading to the Corner, 
formerly termed the "Governor's Road." He was five times 
elected one of the board of selectmen of that town, and also 
served as deputy sheriflf. 

He had quite a large family of children. Three of his daughters 
married Wolfeborough men, Sally becoming the wife of James 
Jenness in 1809, Betsy of Isaac Edmunds in 1814, and Mary of 



124 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Stephen W. Home in 1815. The last named was the mother of 
Lorenzo and Charles L. Home. 

James Conner came from Henniker, and secured a lot out of 
the Daniel Treadwell right, numbered fourteen. Here he erected 
buildings where now stand those occupied by Asst. District 
Attorney Fred E. Hurd, of Boston. His son James settled on 
the Banfield place, and his son Samuel, on the Jerome place. 
Jeremiah made his home with his father. He had but little edu- 
cation, but possessing good natural ability, served several years 
as selectman, and occupied other responsible positions. He was 
the first person in town who gave in his inventory "money on 
hand." At one time he kept tavern, and town meetings were 
often held at his house. He built the first cidermill in town. A 
nephew of his, Moses Conner, who was a cripple, was a popular 
teacher of common schools. He was a good penman, and many 
are the family records in the family bibles written by "Master 
Conner." 

Enoch Thomas settled the farm situated north of Main Street 
cemetery, now occupied by George W. Bassett and John L. 
Wiggin. His house stood in the present garden of Mr. Bassett. 
Thomas was hired by the town authorities to enlist in the Revolu- 
tionary army, in order that they might retain at home the black- 
smith, Meader, for the accommodation of the people. About 
1790, Thomas sold the farm to Isaac Townsend, a Freewill Bap- 
tist minister who came from New Durham, and removed to 
Tuftonborough Neck where most of his descendants have since 
resided. Mr. Townsend soon exchanged the farm with Samuel 
Fox for one in Pleasant Valley. Here "Esquire Fox" dwelt 
during his lifetime. John Bassett purchased the property of his 
heirs, and after living on it for several years, deceased, and it has 
become the possession of his son, George W. Bassett. 

Little is known of the history of Jeremiah Gould. It is probable 
that he settled on the lot where Lemuel Cliflford afterwards re- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



125 



sided, now the home of Nathan .Shackley. In 1780 he was elected 
field-driver. 

Andrew Wiggin came from New Market and settled where 
Alfred Brown now resides. He had little education, but was a 
man of probity and sound judgment, as evinced by the responsible 
positions in which his townsmen placed him. He held few ofifices 
on account of lack of educational attainments ; but no citizen was 
more respected, and few had greater influence in directing public 
affairs than he. He had much to do with the building of the town 
meeting-house, was one of the charter members of the first Con- 
gregationalist church, which was organized in 1792, also one of its 
deacons. He had several sons, who settled near him, Paul, on the 
lot now occupied by Joseph Abbott, and Andrew and Moses on 
the home farm. Andrew built on the farm of Samuel Tebbetts 
the first pound in Wolfeborough, receiving two dollars for his 
work. 

Jonathan Hersey, the son of Jam.es Hersey, and one of a family 
of ten children, came from Newmarket. He had a settler's claim 
of one hundred acres of land on Daniel Pierce's "Great Lot," 
which contained one thousand acres. He was a stirring man, and 
held several minor offices. He had a large family of children, most 
of whom became farmers and settled near him, either in Wolfe- 
borough or Tuftonborough, his farm joining the latter town. 
He speculated considerably in land, and eventually became a 
large landowner, several of his sons following in his footsteps. 
His son James, who lived in his neighborhood, although within 
the limits of Tuftonborough left, at his decease, an estate ap- 
praised at sixty thousand dollars. 

John Parker, although retaining his proprietary lot for a short 
time, and improving it somewhat through the agency of Reuben 
Libbey, to whom he gave a settler's lot, was never a resident of 
Wolfeborough, but during his lifetime dwelt in Portsmouth. He 
was sheriff under the provincial government of New Hampshire — 
first, of the whole province, and after its division into counties, 



126 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

of the county of Rockingham. After the change from the pro- 
vincial to the state government occurred, he again received the 
shrievalty, and was subsequently appointed by Washington, Mar- 
shall of the district of New Hampshire. These positions were 
held by him during his life time. He was never married, but 
his house was the asylum of the widow and orphan. Nine 
nephews and nieces were educated at his expense, among them 
being John Parker Hale, the father of the distinguished Nev/ 
Hampshire senator of that name. His biographer says of him: 
"He was a social companion, an accomplished gentleman, a dis- 
interested friend." He was clerk of the Wolfeborough proprietry 
for many years. 

Matthew Stanley Gibson Parker, the youngest brother of John, 
came into possession of the Wolfeborough Neck property, with the 
exception of the Libbey lot. He erected buildings on it, and 
improved it as a farm for several years, then sold it to Johnathan 
Edmonds, and removed to the "Mills," where he occupied the 
Mill house, keeping tavern and acting as miller. 

The advent of "Esquire Parker," as he was called in accordance 
with the custom of the olden time when titles were highly prized, 
was a godsend to the people of Wolfeborough, his acquired 
abilities far superior to those of any other citizen then living in 
the town, rendering him well fitted to occupy any important 
position which the requirements of the town demanded. He was 
well qualified for legal business, and for several years was the 
only justice of the peace, an ofBce then regarded as quite im- 
portant. He was elected town clerk in 1774, the year after his 
arrival, and in 1778 one of the board of selectmen. Both these 
offices he held almost continuously until his death, which occurred 
very suddenly in 1788, while on a visit to his brother-in-law, 
Deering Stoddard, who lived in the northeast part of the town. 

Mr. Parker married Anna, the daughter of Colonel Henry 
Rust. Their children, seven in number, were : Henry Rust ; Wil- 
liam Sewall, who kept a bookstore in Troy, N. Y. ; Matthew 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



127 



Stanley, cashier of Suffolk bank, Boston ; Samuel Hale, publisher 
of the Waverly novels, etc. ; Nathaniel Adams, who died young ; 
John Toppan ; Anna, who married Rev. Jaaziniah Crosby. 

Henry Rust Parker, who, after his father's decease, made his 
home with his grandfather, Colonel Henry Rust, and eventually 
inherited the estate, which has since been known as the "Parker 
Place," was a farmer and merchant. He bore the reputation of a 
worthy citizen, and held various town ofifices. His family is now 
represented in the town by Charles Franklin Parker, who is a 
banker and has held numerous business and official positions, and 
his brother John Parker. 

Moses and Ichabod Tebbetts probably had no families or 
property at the time that they first came to Wolfeborough. They 
went into the army at the first call for soldiers. There have been 
many persons named Tebbetts residing in Wolfeborough, es- 
pecially in the northeastern part, but they have belonged to dif- 
ferent families. 

George Woodhouse had a home on which was four acres of 
cleared land. He "cut" the College Road nearly its entire length 
in Wolfeborough. He was elected fence-viewer in 1773, and hog- 
reeve and fence-viewer in 1774. 

Thomas Triggs settled on the farm nov/ occupied by Valentine 
B. Willey, and for several years managed the mill now used by 
Mr. Willey. 

Joseph Keniston, Samuel Hide, Joseph Leavitt, and Abram 
Prebble settled in the northeastern part of the town. Keniston 
occupied the lot since in the possession of Stephen Nute near 
Dimon's Corner, and Prebble, a portion of the Haines farm. 



CHAPTER XL 

Local Government established — The Charter — The An- 
nual Fah^ — The First Town-meeting — Officers 
chosen — Town-meeting Records — Examples of Pho- 
netic Spelling — A Highway Surveyor's Warrant — 
Specified Duties of Town Officers — Fence-viewers — 
Field-drivers — Pound-keepers — Hog-reeves — Bene- 
dicts — Pounds — The Constable — The Tithing-man — 
The Deer-keeper — The Race-ground — Early Fairs — 
Methods of Traveling. 

WOLFEBOROUGH, when granted to the twenty-four town 
proprietors, was a wilderness, and except where con- 
tiguous to Lake Winnipesaukee, surrounded by dense forests of 
large extent. No territory adjoining it, except the town of New 
Durham, had any inhabitants, and these lived at a distance of ten 
or twelve miles ; nor was there any road leading from it to a popu- 
lated district. It was at first, therefore, no easy matter to induce 
persons to settle in the town. To those attempting it, it meant a 
sundering of neighborhood and family ties and an at least tem- 
porary exile. Only the more courageous or indigent were willing 
to brave the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life. 

When the governor of the province of New Hampshire had ob- 
tained possession of several thousand acres of land in Wolfe- 
borough, however, and, contemplating the establishment of a 
baronial estate, was engaging in extensive agricultural operations, 
and was being seconded in his enterprizes by energetic and 
wealthy men, immigration became more rapid. So encouraging 
was the outlook that the proprietors of the town deemed it ad- 
visable to apply to the governor for a charter, and Henry Rust, A. 

R. Cutter, and John Parker were appointed a committee to make 
128 




I 




<n 




-) 


X 


n 


o 


rr 


_> 


O 


o 


m 


cr 


iij 


o 


IL 


m 


_J 


III 


(1 


Ll. 


5 


_i 
o 


UJ 


5: 


1- 


H 


^ 


Ol 


III 


< 


o 


UJ 



in 



I 
o 

O 

cr 
O 
m 

ol 



o 



X 


I 


CD 


^ 


3 


3 


o 


O 


q: 


cc 


C) 


n 


OJ 


DQ 


yu 


UJ 


Ll- 


U. 


_l 


..1 


O 


O 


$ 


5 


I 


X 


1- 


l- 


-) 


o: 


o 


o 


(/5 


z 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 129 

the application. Col. Rust was absent on a sea voyage, and did 
not sign the petition, which follows : — 

Province of New ] To his Excellency John Wentworth, Esquire, 

Hampshire jCapt. General Governor and Commander in 

Chief in and over the Province aforesaid, and 

the Honorable his Majesty's Council for said 

Province : 

The Humble Petition of Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, Physician and 
John Parker, Merch both of Portsmouth in said Province as a 
Committee of the Proprietors of Wolfeborough in said Province 
shews : — ' 

That there are in the Township of Wolfeborough upwards of 
Thirty Families settled and more coming to settle there, which 
makes an Incorporation necessary to transact their common 
affairs with ease & dispatch, and in that case many wou'd be in- 
duced to settle there, who would be backward without that ad- 
vantage. 
That the Proprietors aforesaid are desirous of obtaining this Privi- 
lege as it will enable them to carry on the settlement with more 
Regularity and enable them to carry into Execution any of 
their Resolutions in which all are concerned, with Justice as 
well as with dispatch, and have therefore chosen your Peti- 
tioners with another person now absent to apply to your Ex- 
cellency & the Honorable Council for this purpose. 
Wherefore they humbly Pray that the said Inhabitants & Pro- 
prietors may be Incorporated with the usual Franchises, Privi- 
leges & Emioluments : that they may be authorized & Intitled 
to use the Powers with which other Corporations are Invested, 
and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall pray &c. 

A. R. Cutter . ^ 

_ , _, , J- Committee 

John Parker 

Portsmouth, July 9th 1770 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Minutes. 

9ih July 1770 

Wolfeboroiigh Petition for 

Incorporation, 

Granted. 

Acceined on my part, J 'PP. 

Charter to be prepared 

Annual Fair or Mart 

1st Tuesday following 21st Sept. 

To call 1st Town meeting 

Mr. Jotham Rindge. 

1st Meeting 21st Sept. 

Annual meeting 

last Tuesday in M'ch. 

CHARTER. 

Province of New Hampshire, George the Third, by the Grace 
of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland. The De- 
fender of the Faith, &c. 

To all people to whom these presents shall come. Greeting : 
Whereas our loyal subjects, inhabiting a tract of land within our 
said Province of New Hampshire, known by the name of Wolf- 
borough, have humbly petitioned and requested us that they 
be erected and incorporated into a township, and enfranchised 
with the same powers and privileges with other towns within 
our said province, and which they by law hold and enjoy ; And 
it appearing unto us to be conducive to the general good of 
our said province, as well as to the said inhabitants in particu- 
lar, by maintaining good order, and encouraging the culture of 
the land, that the same should be done ; Know ye, therefore, 
that we, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and for the 
encouragement and promotion of the good end and purpose 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



131 



aforesaid, by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved 
John Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief, and of our Council for said Province of New Hamp- 
shire, have erected and ordained, and, by these presents, for 
us, our heirs and successors, do will and ordain, that our lov- 
ing subjects residing- on the tract of land aforesaid, or that shall 
hereafter reside and improve thereon; (the same being butted 
and bounded as follows : 
Beginning at the northeasterly comer of a tract of land called 
New Durham, then running north forty-eight degrees, east on 
the head or upper line of a tract of land called Middleton, and 
on that called Salmon Falls town or East town, or as those 
head lines run, joining thereon, and running so far as that a 
line running from thence six miles northwest, and then south- 
west to Winnipiseokee Pond, and then by the side of said 
pond joining thereon, until the aforesaid corner first mentioned 
bears southeast ; and then running southeast to the said corner, 
which completes thirty-six square miles, the content of said 
Wolfborough ;) shall be, and by these presents are declared 
and ordained to be a town corporate, and are hereby erected 
and incorporated into a body politick and corporate, to have 
countenance and succession forever, by the name of Wolf- 
borough, with all powers, authorities, privileges, immunities 
and franchises, which any other town in said Province by law 
hold and enjoy ; Always reserving to us, our heirs and suc- 
cessors, the full power and right of dividing said town when it 
shall appear necessary and convenient for the inhabitants there- 
of ; also, reserving to us, our heirs and successors, all white pine 
trees which are or shall be found, growing and being within 
and upon the said tract of land, fit for the use of our royal navy. 
The said inhabitants by these presents shall have and enjoy the 
liberty and privilege of holding an annual Fair or Mart within 
the said town ; which Fair shall be held and kept on the first 
Tuesday following the twenty-first day of September annually. 



132 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby declared that this charter 
and grant is not intended, and shall not, in any manner, be 
construed to effect the private property of the soil within the 
limits aforesaid ; and, as the several towns within our said 
province, are, by the laws thereof enabled and authorized to 
assemble, and, by the majority of the voters present, to choose 
all officers, and transact such affairs as in the said laws are de- 
clared ; — We do, by these presents, nominate and appoint Mr. 
Jotham Rindge to call the first meeting of said inhabitants, to 
be held within the said town, on the 28th of September inst., 
giving legal notice of the time and design of holding such meet- 
ing; after which the annual meeting of said town shall be held 
therein for the choice of said officers, and the purposes afore- 
said, on the last Tuesday of March annually. 

In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of our said 
Province to be hereunto affixed. 

Witness, our truly and well beloved John Wentworth, Esquire, 
our Governor and Commander-in-Chief aforesaid, the twenty- 
first day of August, in the tenth year of our reign, Anno 
Domino Christi, 1770. 

By His Excellency's command, with advice of Council. 

J. Wentworth. [L.S.] 

Agreeably to the foregoing charter, the inhabitants, being duly 
notified, met on the twenty-eighth day of September, 1770, and 
made choice of the following officers : Mr. James Lucas, mod- 
erator ; Mr. Jotham Rindge, town clerk ; Captain Thomas Lucas, 
John Sinkler, and Jacob Sceggel, selectmen ; Thomas Taylor, 
constable ; Benjamin Blake, Samuel Tebbetts, Aaron Frost, and 
Benjamin Folsom, surveyors. 

At the annual town-meeting held at John Sinkler's on the 
twenty-fifth day of March, 1771, Thomas Lucas was elected mod- 
erator ; John Flagg, town clerk ; Thomas Lucas, Jacob Sceggel, 
and John Sinkler, selectmen; Ithiel Clifford, constable; Benjamin 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



133 



Folsom and Samuel Tebbetts, surveyors ; Benjamin Folsom and 
Thomas Piper, fence-viewers ; Benjamin Folsom and Thomas 
Piper, hog-reeves. It was voted to build a pound on Samuel 
Tebbetts' lot ; the same to be twenty feet square and seven feet 
high. This pound was built by Andrew Wiggin, Jr., for twelve 
shillings, he having made the lowest bid for the contract. Samuel 
Tebbetts was chosen pound-keeper, to which office he was re- 
elected for several successive years. 

In 1772 the town ofificers elected were Thomas Lucas, mod- 
erator ; John Flagg, town clerk ; John Flagg, Benjamin Folsom, 
Tthiel Clifford, selectmen ; Andrew Wiggin, constable ; Thomas 
Lucas, Ithiel Clifford, Jacob Sceggel, surveyors ; Joseph Lary, 
Benjamin Folsom, James Lucas, Jr., hog-reeves ; Thomas Piper, 
Jacob Sceggel, fence-viewers. 

It is probable that some time during the year John Flagg left 
Wolfeborough, as at the annual election in 1773, John Sinkler, 
who was very illiterate, became town clerk ; otherwise, Flagg, 
who possessed good business qualifications, would evidently have 
retained the office. He was a large landholder, possessing four 
hundred acres in the westerly part of the town, in which he held 
an interest until 1779. 

Here follows a copy of the record of the annual town-meeting 
of 1773, verbatim et literatim : — 

"Province of New hamsher County of Starford. 
At the aneuil town meting of the freeholders and inhabetens 
of the town of Wolfeborough met at John Sinklers the 30 Day of 
march 1773. 

I Voted thomas Lukes moderator 2 John Sinkler town clerk 3 
Bengmon folsom 4 thomas tayler 5 James Conner Selekmen 6 
Joseph Lary Constable 7 thomas Lukes Benjamin folsom sevairs 
of high ways 8 thomas Piper Bengmon folsom hog Reeves 9 
Bengmon Blake Jorge Woodhouse fence viewers 10 thomas Piper 
Jonathan Harsey Dear Keepers. 



124 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

11 Voted to Raise five Pounds Lawfull Money for a scoole. 

12 voted that the Rods Be Repaired By arate. 

13 Voted Cornel henery Rust Capt thomas Lukes Commety 
men. 

14 that the Seleckmen By A Book to keep their A Counts in. 

15 thomas Piper Culler of Lumber. 

16 Samuel Tebbetts Chose Pound Keeper. 

17 Jacob Scegil Chose Juery men." 

The lack of an education on the part of Mr. Sinkler (or Sin- 
clair, as the name is now more generally written) did not debar 
him from occupying various important positions in town affairs. 
During the following civil year Matthew Parker became a citizen 
of the town, and at the annual election of 1774 was chosen town 
clerk. 

The first legal instrument issued by the town authorities now 
extant was a highway surveyor's warrant. Here is a copy of it : — 

"Province of Newhampshire County of Starford. 

To Capt. Thomas McLucas one of the Sevars of Wolfborough 
for the Corant year Greating 
You are in his Majesty's (name) Required to Lavy and Coleck 
of the Inhabitance and Estats as they are Set Down in this List of 
Rats Delivered to you the total to the amount of sd Inhabitanes 
and Estats in Labor at Two Shillings Pr. Day which you are to 
lay out on the Main Road from Tuftinborough Line to Birch 
Camp So Coled and if any of said Inhabitans Shall Neglect or 
Refuse to Pay the above Sum or Sums Given to you in sd List 
you are to Distraint on the Goods Chatels or Estats and them 
safely Ceap the Spase of four Days at the charge of the owner or 
owners of sd Goods and Chatels and if sd owner or owners Shall 
Not Pay sd sum or sums within said Fore Days you are to expose 
and sell at Publick Vendue, to pay sd sum or sums with Incidental 
Charges as the Law Directs, and Return the over Plush money if 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 135 

any there be ameadtly to the owner or owners. Dated at Wolf- 
borough this 2 Day of September 1773 and in the 13th year of His 
Majesty's Reign. 

Benj. Folsom, '\ 

Thomas Taylor, VSelectment." 

James Connor, J 

The above examples of illiteracy are not inserted as a reproach 
on the early settlers of Wolfeborough ; nor is it to be presumed 
that the lack of education rendered them deficient in mental 
caliber. Among them were to be found persons of sound judg- 
ment and business tact that would put to the blush some tutored 
smatterers of the present day. Learning is good, but wisdom is 
better. 

Certain officers, — such as fence-viewers, field-drivers, pound- 
keepers, and hog-reeves — were of more relative importance with 
the early inhabitants of the town than they are now. Domestic 
animals — such as horses, neat cattle, sheep, swine, and geese — 
were allowed to run at large in the highway, and careful viligance 
was necessary to protect the growing crops. 

When the services of the fence-viewer were demanded, it was 
his province to examine and determine if fences, whether lining 
the highway or dividing estates, were, either as to height or 
strength, in such a condition as the statutory laws required. If 
thereafter any person whose fences had received official approval 
should find domestic animals of the kinds already referred to 
within his enclosures, he could direct the field-driver to take such 
animals to the pound and commit them to the custody of the 
pound-keeper, there to remain under certain rules until their 
owner should settle the fee of impoundage and adjust the matter 
of damages with the person impounding. 

Swine running at large were required to be yoked and rung. 
The yoke was made of wood, and so adjusted to the neck of the 
animal as to prevent it passing through holes in the fences. It 



136 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



was rung in the following manner : a wire was thrust through the 
cartilage of the snout, and the ends twisted together. This pre- 
vented rooting. 

In after years, when swine were not allowed to run at large, and 
hog-reeves were not necessary officers, it became the practice to 
elect to the office every man who had been married within the 
year, and at each annual town-meeting a row of amorous bene- 
dicts were paraded before the moderator to receive the oath of 
office. This election occurring near the close of the balloting, had 
a tendency to lessen the asperities that might have arisen in the 
heated conflicts preceding it, the accompanying pleasant badinage 
producing mutual good humor. 

Since the settlement of Wolfeborough there have been four 
povmds built in the town. The first was constructed of logs, on 
land belonging to Samuel Tebbetts, in 177 1. It was twenty feet 
square and seven feet high. In 1799 a pound thirty feet square 
was built on the town meeting-house lot. It was constructed of 
stone with a cap timber one foot square. Joseph Piper built it for 
fourteen dollars. In 1814 two pounds were built. One was on 
the heath portion of the mill lot, nearly opposite the Harmony 
Grove Creamery. The land for this was deeded to the town by 
William and Joseph Kent and Cutter & Sewall, who were at that 
time proprietors of the mill property, the consideration being 
eight dollars. This lot was forty feet square and situated on the 
easterly side of the road. The pound was thirty feet square, and 
was surrounded by stone walls three feet thick at the bottom 
and two feet thick at the top. These walls were faced on the in- 
side, also on the outside next the street, and were capped with a 
timber one foot in diameter. The pound had a door with a sub- 
stantial lock, and was built by Paul H. Varney for twenty-five 
dollars. It does not now exist, the walls having been removed. 
A pine tree, which stood within it, has also disappeared, the 
stump only remaining. A similar pound was built the same 
year on land purchased of Dudley Hardy and Richard Bickford 




^^^--J^ 



ii ^\ 




< 

X 

< 

cr 
O 

LU 

5 



CO 

LU 
CC 

CQ 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



137 



for four dollars. It was thirty-six feet square, and was built by 
Mark Wiggin for twenty-four dollars. This pound still stands. 

The constable ranked next to the selectman as a town officer. 
As the executive of the statue law, his services were then relative- 
ly in greater requisition than now. By virtue of his oflfice he was 
collector of taxes. 

Previous to the incorporation of the town the roads in Wolfe- 
borough were opened and constructed by the town proprietors 
at their own expense. After that, the care of them devolved upon 
the inhabitants. All roads required frequent repairing, and there 
were frequent demands for the opening of new ones : hence the 
duties of the highway surveyors were onerous and exacting, as 
they were not only to collect and apply the labor taxes, but in 
some instances to lay out new roads. Perhaps this latter duty 
was not to be performed, except when it had been imposed by a 
vote of the town. 

The tithing-man was the holder of an office transmitted by the 
Puritans. It was his duty to preserve order in religious meetings 
and secure a proper observance of the Sabbath. It was an office 
little needed in Wolfeborough, as the early settlers had very few 
religious meetings, and the inducements to sporting were certainly 
not many. It is to be hoped that their early training would 
deter them from performing unnecessary labor on the Sabbath. 
However, sober and discreet citizens were elected to the office, 
and it is presumed that the inhabitants generally deported them- 
selves as became an orderly and quiet population. 

The official duties of the deer-keej>er are not known. Perhaps 
it was his business to prevent such a wasteful slaughter of the ani- 
mal as would hinder its propagation, and thereby' lessen the sup- 
ply of game food. 

It seems that jurors were elective officers, Jacob Sceggel being 
elected in 1773, and re-elected in 1774; Reuben Libbey, in 1775 ; 
Isaiah Home, in 1781, 

In the charter of Wolfeborough provision was made for hold- 



i38 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



ing a fair, which was to be "kept on the first Tuesday following 
the twenty-first day of September, annually." There is no manu- 
script evidence that such a fair was ever held, but tradition says 
there was. Its headquarters were at Sinkler's two-roomed tavern, 
and its race-ground was that portion of the Miles Road that 
fronted on the farm now occupied by Benjamin Webster. It is 
not improbable that previous to 1776 there were some public 
gatherings at this place, but they were necessarily small. After 
that period institutions established under the patronage of officers 
of the British government would not be in high favor, nor could 
the people afford much time or money for recreation. 

Probably as early as 1772 the College and Pequaket Roads 
could be used as horse-paths, and those persons residing in Con- 
way, Sandwich, Moultonborough, and Tuftonborough could reach 
Wolfeborough without much difficulty. There were no road.*? 
leading south to the more thickly settled towns except the one 
from the Wentworth Farm through Middleton. The inhabitants 
of New Durham and vicinity would be compelled to depend on 
the forest paths marked by blazed trees. Gilmanton people could 
cross Lake Winnipesaukee in boats. The amusements were 
horse and foot races, wrestling, pitching quoits, dancing, playing 
cards, and to a small extent, exchanging equines. The gather- 
ings, though small, were said to be spirited. 



CHAPTER XII. 

The Revolution — Uncertainty prevails in 1775 — Census of 
1773 AND 1775 — Ammunition purchased — The Town 
ACTS — Moses Ham appointed Agent — Early enlist- 
ments — Organization of the Train-band — Meager 
Records — Money and Labor given — Difference as to 
town Quota of men — Town-meeting to provide Sol- 
diers — Two Men enlist — Burgoyne's Raid — General 
Whipple's Letter — How the Soldiers were fitted out 
— No New Hampshire Conscripts — Exempts — Town 
declines to send Delegate to Provincial Congress. 

AT no period in the early history of Wolfeborough had the 
town so encouraging an outlook as in 1774. Only six years 
had elapsed since it was a wilderness without a single inhabitant. 
Now there were probably within its borders thirty families, which, 
although generally poor, were successfully clearing land and rais- 
ing crops. More than this, Governor Wentworth, the leading 
patron of industries and education, had engaged in an enter- 
prise within its limits that bid fair to make it eventually the sec- 
ond town in the province. His operations had thus far been 
highly conducive to its interests, as he had furnished employ- 
ment for surplus labor, paying remunerative wages in cash, which 
was greatly needed by the indigent settlers. 

Notwithstanding there was much disquiet in the provinces gen- 
erally on account of the attempts of the British ministry to en- 
force unrepresented taxation, yet, as the relations between the 
King of England and Governor Wentworth were very friendly, 
and those existing between the governor and people of New 
Hampshire were equally so, there was comparatively little ap- 
prehension of fatal disturbances. Business moved on in its ac- 
customed channels. Probably more was accomplished on the 

139 



140 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Wentwortli Farm during- this than in any preceding year. If the 
governor feared no great impending evil, the people, of course, 
vv^ould not be greatly alarmed. 

Thus closed the year 1774, to the people of Wolfeborough not 
one of fearful bodings in relation to the future, but of high ex- 
pectations of a rapid development of its resources and an increase of 
its population ; men of wealth and position having begun to regard 
it as a place favorable for investment and residence. 

The year 1775 was ushered in with no signs of compromise. 
The English government abated nothing of its claims ; the pro- 
vincials were defiant ; force, the despot's argument, was threat- 
ened ; armed redcoats appeared on provincial soil ; the breach con- 
tinually widened. Still there were those who hoped and believed 
that there would be a peaceful solution to the difficulty, and 
among these was Governor Wentwortli. As soon as the traveling 
would permit, he visited his Wolfeborough farm to make prepara- 
tions for the coming season. On the nineteenth day of April the 
Battle of Lexington was fought. The bloody conflict aroused 
the whole country. When the report reached the governor, he 
immediately set out with a single companion for Portsmouth to 
counsel peace and, if possible, prevent disorder. The history of 
the rapidly occurring events that followed has already been nar- 
rated. 

Neither manuscript nor tradition furnishes a clew to the position 
which individual citizens assumed when Governor Wentworth 
left the town, or when the political attitude of New Hampshire 
was undergoing a change. That he left personal friends is not 
to be questioned, and that he could no longer carry forward the 
enterprise which promised so much for the future prosperity of 
the town, was no doubt universally regretted. If some persons 
were dissatisfied with the turn public afifairs were taking, it is 
probable that there were no outward manifestations of disap- 
proval. A majority of the people favored democratic ideas, and 
the town officers were enabled to maintain generally the authority 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 141 

of the charter government, although in a few instances taxes 
voted could not be collected. The exigencies of the period de- 
manded the general co-operation of the citizens of the town, and 
so far as is now known, it was in a good measure secured. 

Before giving a narration of events that were transpiring, it 
seems proper to consider the condition of the town as to men 
and means to meet the responsibilities approaching. In 1773 a 
census of New Hampshire was taken by order of the governor. 
Here is a copy of the order : — 

Portsmouth, Oct. 15th, 1773. 

Sir — I am to request an exact list of the number of inhabitants 

in the town of distinguished into different Ranks or 

Classes according to the Schedule below, — which I shall be glad 
to have returned to me authenticated as soon as possible. 

John Went worth. 

Here is the return from Wolfeborough agreeably to the form : — 

Unmarried men from 16 to 60 16 

Married men from 16 to 60 25 

Boys 16 years and under 49 

Men 60 years and upwards 2 

Females unmarried 43 

Females married 25 

Widows 5 

Total 165 

August 25, 1775, Matthew Thornton, President of the colony 
of New Hampshire, issued an order to the selectmen of towns to 
take an account of the inhabitants thereof, classed as follows : 
Males between 16 and 50 years of age not in the army ; males un- 
der 16 years of age; males above 50; all females; negroes and 
slaves for life ; also to ascertain the number of firearms fit for use ; 



142 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



also the number wanting to complete one for every person capable 
of using it ; the quantity of powder on hand, both public and 
private property ; and to caution persons against wasting it on 
shooting birds, etc 

Here is the response made to the above order so far as relates 
to the town of Wolfeborough, as certified by Henry Rust and 
Moses Ham, selectmen : — 

Pupulation, including every soul 2il 

Males between i6 and 50 years of age not in the 

army 53 

Males under 16 years of age 57 

Males over 50 years of age 4 

Men in the army 4 

Females 9^ 

Negroes and slaves 2 

Number of arms 34 

Number of arms wanting 22 

Number of pounds of public powder 25 

Number of pounds of private powder 5 

Here is a portion of the account as taken by the selectmen. A 
more important portion is lost. 



c^ ^ '-* 
02. <^ 

: ^ 

. n 

: S 

Henry Rust 3 i 

Thomas Lucas i i 

Capt. Sinkler i 5 

James Conner i i 

James Lucas i 

Saml. Tebbetts, Jr.. . i i 



O 

<: 

►-t 

O 



^ 


> 


> 


"n 


a> 


-i 


■-t 





3 


3 


3 


^ 


p 


yj 


Cfl 


p* 


n 




^ 


Q 






3 
orq 





4 
I 

I 

6 

4 
2 



2 
I 
I 
I 



I 
I 
I 
I 
I 



lib. 

lib. 

I 1-2 lb. 



8 



18 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



143 






C O 



o 



3 



n 



< 

en 

O 



3 
I— » 

?r 

en 



1 

3 

«3 



,-> 



3 

5' 



I 

2 



Mr. Glen i 

Mr. Triggs 2 

Mr. Nutter 

Mr. Frost 

Mr. Prebble 

Mr. Lary 

Mr. Keniston 

Mr. Wingate 

Mr. Kennett 

George Woodhouse. 
Samuel Woodhouse. 

Mr. Haid 

Widow Folsom 

John Young 

Garet Byron 

Robert Calder 



James Lucas Gone in the army. 



I 
2 

3 
I 



3 
9 
3 
I 

3 
I 

9 

3 
9 



I gun. 
I pistol 
I gun. 
I gun. 
I gun. 



3 guns. 



I gun. 



I gun. 

I gun. 
I pistol. 



20 19 



S3 



1 1 guns. 
3 pistols. 



i 

o 
•-I 



Here follows an invoice of each person's poll and ratable estate 
in Wolfeborough, May 7, 1774. Polls of eighteen years and above 
were rated at eighteen shillings each ; horses and oxen four years 
old at three shillings ; cows at two shillings ; three years old cattle 
at one shilling and six pence ; two years cattle at one shilling. 
Improved land was rated at six pence an acre. When a person 
was between the age of eighteen and twenty-one years, his poll 
was reckoned with that of his parent ; and when the father was 
aged, and was not assessed for property, his poll was frequently 
computed with that of his son. An invoice follows : 



144 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Name. 



Polls. 



Henry Rust 2 

Thomas Lucas 2 

James Conner i 

James Lucas 2 

James Lucas, Jr 

John Sinkler 

Samuel Tebbetts 

Thomas Piper 

Andrew Lucas 

Samuel Tebbetts, Jr 

Joseph Lary 

Enoch Thomas 

Ebenezer Header 

Benjamin Blake 

Mary Fullerton 

John Fullerton 

Jeremiali Gould 

Andrew Wiggin 

Jonathan Hersey 

Moses Ham 

Zachariah Bunker 

Matthew S. Parker 

Reuben Libbey 

Moses Tebbetts 

Ichabod Tebbetts 

George Woodhouse 

Samuel Woodhouse 

Thomas Triggs 

Grafton Nutter 

Jonathan Lary 

Joseph Keniston 

James Lucas 

Aaron Frost 

Samuel Mellows 

Gideon Doe 

Capt. Dudley 

Jacob Sceggel 



Rate value 
of stock. 
10 shillings. 

4 " 

4 " 
8 

6 

ID 

2 



4 

4 

2 
8 
2 
2 

6 

2 

16 

8 
12 



<< 
(( 

ti 
<< 
« 






Rate value 

of land. 

15 shillings. 

13 
10 

4 
II 

13 

4 
2 

2 I-: 

2 

2 

6 

4 
4 



6 
2 
8 

12 1-2 
12 







2 






2 


6 


<< 


8 


6 


<( 


14 


4 


(( 


2 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



145 



Name. 

Robert Calder. . 
Samuel Hide. . . 
Elijah Buzzel.. . . 
Moses Stretton . 

Jacob Joy , 

Ithiel Clifford.., 
Lemuel Clififord, 

John Liford 

Joseph Leavitt. . 
Moses Gilman . . . 
Richard Furbur. . 
Samuel Pease . . , 
Jacob Morrel. . . . 
Michel Byron. . , 
James Hersey. . , 
Abram Prebble. . 



Polls. 



Rate value 
of stock. 



Rate value 
of land. 

2 shillings. 



4 shillings. 
4 " 



2 
2 



There were fifty-five persons assessed, twenty-seven of them 
for a poll only. Twenty-three persons were assessed for stock 
whose ratable value was $21.66. Ten of these owned only a cow. 
Twenty-nine persons paid taxes on an aggregate of 350 acres of 
improved land, which was rated in the whole at $29.16. Ten of 
these possessed only four acres each. The ratable valuation of 
all property was $50.76, being less than one-third of the total 
ratable valuation of the town, which, including polls, was $215.76. 
James Conner was appraised for $167 in money, and Dr. Cutter 
for the mills, whose ratable value was $3.00, their yearly income 
being $300. By the foregoing invoice it is shown that the ratable 
valuation of poll and estate, on which taxation was based, would 
require that more than three-fourths of any given tax should be 
assessed on the poll. Of course wild lands were not to be taxed, 
as they then had no appreciable value ; nor was the Wentworth 
Farm taken into account, as its disposition had not been deter- 
mined. It was subsequently taxed. 



146 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



An inventory of the northeast portion of the town, taken by 



Robert Calder, June 9, 1775. 



p 



Moses Wingate . ... 

John Lovet 

Richard Furbur . . . 
George Woodhouse 

John Kennett 

Aaron Frost 

Abraham Prebble . , 
Jonathan Lary . . . . 
Samuel Mellows . . . 

James Lucas 

Joseph Kennison . . 
Thomas Triggs . . . , 
Grafton Nutter . . . . 

Robert Calder 

Garret Byron 

Archibel Campbell . 
Samuel Hide 



17 



o 

(A 

C/2 



o 

3 



14 



n 



> 
n 

(T) 

pT 

3 

a. 










£0 


i8s. 
i8s. 
i8s. 


2 


2 


£1 


3s. 


I 




ii 




2 


4 


ii 


IDS. 

iSs. 


I 




£i 


9s. 


I 




£1 


iSs. 
iSs 


2 


I 


£1 


2 I-2S. 


2 




£1 


2S. 


2 


2 


£1 


3s. 
iSs. 
i8s. 


I 




£1 




r 


9 


^17 


16 I-2S. 



In 1773 the sum of £5 — 10 — 8 was raised to purchase am- 
munition, and deposited with Henry Rust. There is no record 
to show by what method the money was obtained. It was evi- 
dently intended to meet any emergency that might arise, such as 
the troublesome times seemed to portend. At a town-meeting 
called by the selectmen through the agency of Constable Aaron 
Frost with a notice of only one day, the inhabitants met, June 6, 
1775, and voted that the money be put in the possession of Moses 
Ham, and that he be appointed an agent to purchase powder and 
lead or bullets. He was to use proper expedition in his journey 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



147 



to Portsmouth, and receive for his services and the use of his 
horse, while absent, at the rate of four shilhngs per day. Here 
follows a copy of his account : — 

Twenty-two and 5-16 pounds powder £2 — 15 — 8 

Seventy pounds of lead i — 8 — o 

Four days' service, wnth daily expense of two 
shilhngs added, being six shillings per day. i — 4 — o 

Truckage i — 6 

Powder purchased i — 6 

Total i5— 10— 8 

The powder was taken to Wolfeborough on horseback, and the 
lead converted into bullets by Ham. He remained the custodian 
of the ammunition until Nov. 15, 1777, when it went into the pos- 
session of the proper authorities for using it. The town stock at 
the time of delivery was about twenty-five pounds of powder and 
sixty-five pounds of bullets. 

August 7, 1775. Moses Ham was elected a delegate to the 
colonial convention, and at the same town-meeting Moses Win- 
gate, Moses Ham, Robert Calder, John Sinkler, and James Con- 
ner were chosen a town committee of safety. The exigencies of 
the times required the formation of such boards of officers. The 
colony of New Hampshire had its committee of safety, as did the 
other colonies, so also did a majority of the towns. These com- 
mittees were generally composed of the more active and patriotic 
men, who by a unity of counsel and efifort secured the confidence 
of the people, and were able to successfully assume the responsi- 
bilities of the government at the period of its transformation. 

Four young men of Wolfeborough enlisted in the army before 
the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought — Jeremiah Gould, James 
Lucas. Ichabod Tebbetts, and Moses Tebbetts. They were mem- 
bers of Capt. Benjamin Pitman's company in Col. Enoch Poor's 
regiment. These men probably hastened to the anticipated scene 
of conflict at the first call to arms, made immediately succeeding 



148 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



the Concord fight. Perhaps they did not then enHst for a definite 
period. They were still in the army in the early autumn of that 
year. Gould and the two Tebbetts did subsequently enlist and 
served as soldiers for several years. 

July 9, 1776, the selectmen of Wolfeboroug'h certified that the 
following persons were in the army; viz., Zachariah Bunker, 
Moses Tebbetts, Ichabod Tebbetts, William Twombly, Samuel 
Mellows, Garret Byron, and Archibel Campbell. 

There is no evidence that especial efforts were made in Wolfe- 
borough to furnish soldiers for the army during the years 1775 
and 1776, and it is probable that its complement was preserved 
by voluntary enlistments. 

At the annual town-meeting, held March 26, 1776, the follow- 
ing letter from Col. Badger was read : — 

"Strafford ss. To all the training soldiers in the town of Wolfe- 
borough , — Greeting: — 

You are hereby notified and warned to meet at the dwelling 
house of John Sinkler, innholder in said town, on Tuesday, the 
twentieth day of February instant, at one of the clock in the after- 
noon, and then and there to make choice of military officers for 
your town ; viz., one captain, two lieutenants, and one ensign, 
agreeably to the order of Congress. 

Dated at Gilmanton, Feb. 6, 1776. 

Joseph Badger, Colonel." 

The notice for the meeting not arriving seasonably, the matter 
was taken up at the annual town-meeting. John Sinkler was 
chosen captain ; Andrew Lucas, first lieutenant ; Jonathan Lary, 
second lieutenant ; and Reuben Libbey, ensign. The train-band 
was subsequently completely organized. Andrew Wiggin was ap- 
pointed clerk ; Aaron Frost, Joseph Leavitt, Lemuel Clifford, John 
FuUerton, sergeants ; Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., Samuel Hide, Enoch 
Thomas, David Piper, corporals ; Jonathan Hersey, drummer ; and 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



149 



John Lucas, fifer. The privates consisted of Richard Rust, Henry 
Rust, Jr., James Connor, James Lucas, Jr., WiUiam Lucas, James 
Lucas, 3rd, Samuel Tebbetts, Edmund Tebbetts, Ichabod Tebbetts, 
Joseph Lary, Ebenezer Header, Benjamin Blake, James Fullerton, 
William Fullerton, John Piper, James Wiggin, Jeremiah Gould, 
Ichabod Ham, Grafton Nutter, George Glynn, Matthew S. Parker, 
Joseph Keniston, Moses Wingate, William Rogers, John Wadleigh. 
Of these Edmund Tebbetts, William Fullerton, John Piper, James 
Wiggin, and Ichabod Ham were under eighteen years of age. 
These, with six other persons then in the army, constituted the 
militia company of Wolfeborough, which consisted of four com- 
missioned officers, eight non-commissioned officers, two musicians, 
and thirty-one privates, making forty-five in all. 

The Revolutionary War records of Wolfeborough are quite 
defective, and it is somewhat difficult to determine when certain 
events occurred, and by what organized agency they were brought 
about. The committee of safety, the militia company, the various 
committees chosen by the town, as well as the selectmen and citi- 
zens generally, took an interest in military matters. All persons 
who were disposed to aid the town in its struggle to meet obliga- 
tions were allowed to do so with little regard for red tape. Not 
only were men required to act as soldiers, but means were needed 
to supply the necessities of those who enlisted and to raise crops 
for the sustenance of their families left at home. 

At some time during this year contributions of money and 
labor were made by sundry persons, for which advancements they 
were to be re-imbursed by abatements on their taxes in I777- 
They were as follows : Henry Rust, Matthew S. Parker, James 
Connor, Capt. Thomas Lucas, Lieut. Andrew Lucas, John Lucas, 
James Lucas, 3rd, Jonathan Hersey, Moses Wingate, Robert 
Calder, Capt. John Sinkler, Ensign Reuben Libbey, Moses Ham, 
one dollar each ; Thomas Piper, a half-dollar ; Samuel Tebbetts, 
Grafton Nutter, Ithiel Clififord, Lemuel CHfiford, Edmund Teb- 
betts, Henry Rust, Jr., Benjamin Blake, Robert Estes, Aaron 



jtO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Frost, Joseph Lary, Enoch Thomas, one day's work each at a half- 
dollar per day ; Jeremiah Gould, three days' work at the same 
price ; James Wiggin, Ichabod Ham, David Blake, and John 
Sinkler, Jr., each a day's work at one-third oi a dollar a day, to be 
placed to the credit of their respective fathers ; Nehemiah Lucas, 
one pound of tobacco, twelve and a half cents. 

In 1776 there was a considerable decrease in the number of 
ratable polls m Wolfeborough on account of the departure of 
employees on the Wentworth Farm, their services being no 
longer required by reason of changed circumstances. This led to 
some difference between the state authorities and those of the 
town in regard to the number of men required to fill the quota of 
three years soldiers for the continental service, the former basing 
their claim as to the number of ratable polls in Wolfeborough on 
the report of the selectmen made in 1775, and the latter theirs on 
the number still remaining in town. 

In July Matthew S. Parker, having been appointed an agent by 
the town, visited the committee of safety at Exeter for the purpose 
of adjusting the matter. The cost of the visit to the town was four 
pounds and one shilling, being Parker's wages for four and one- 
half days at eight shillings per day for himself and horse and his 
daily expenses as thus intemized : — "breakfast, one shilling ; din- 
ner, two shillings ; one bowl of grog, two shillings ; supper, one 
shilling ; lodging, six pence ; oats thrice, one shilling ; horse keep- 
ing, two shillings and six pence." Persons transacting public busi- 
ness were at that time expected to manifest a courteous respect 
for each other by drinking together or treating with the social 
glass. The matter of controversy appears to have been amicably 
settled by Parker and the committee of safety. 

The following letter addressed to Hon. John Wentworth, chair- 
man of the state committee of safety, is self-explanatory. 

"Wolfeborough, January 19, 1777. 
Sir : — There having a vote passed in the Honorable Council 




HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



151 



and Assembly, for each town to make up there full quota of men 
for the three years' service in the Continental Army, occasions my 
troubling you with this line to ask your advice in relation tO' what 
can be done respecting that affair with this town ; the particulars 
of which (as I informed you last July at Exeter, when I was sent 
down by the town on the same business) are these: In the year 
1775 there were orders issued by the General Court for the num- 
ber of all souls, at which time there were ten or twelve more ratable 
polls than there are at present — there being now only forty-four. 
Now, the proportion for this town, I imagine, was made by the 
return given in that year, which occasions the call for soldiers 
from this town to be two or three more than its proportion (which 
I understand to be every eighth man, agreeably to a vote of the 
Assembly), the inhabitants having depreciated instead of increas- 
ing. Now, if you recollect, I related these particulars to you, like- 
wise shew you the necessary certificate to prove the same, when 
I saw you at Exeter. I endeavored to lay the affair before the 
Honorable Committee of Safety, then sitting, but the multiplicity 
of business then before your Honors prevented me. I think you 
told me you mentioned it before the committee adjourned, and it 
was concluded that the town might make itself easy if it had sent 
its proportion according to the present number of its inhabitants. 
The present order is for the muster master to hire all delinquent 
men, and charge the respective towns with the cost. Now, if you 
can help us in the affair, that we may (as is most just) shun that 
difficulty, I shall take it as a particular kindness done to 

Your most Obedient and very Humble Servant, 

Matthew S. Parker. 
John Wentworth, Esq. 

On the eighteenth day of April, 1777, a town-meeting was 
called to adopt measures for meeting the demand of the general 
court for soldiers for the continental service, and also to attend 



IC2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

to Other matters. The town chose Matthew S. Parker and Joseph 
Lary a committee to hire soldiers, and instructed it to hire two, 
only, notwithstanding the call was for a larger number. The 
committee was further instructed, in case the claim for a larger 
number of men was pressed, to visit the general court and show 
that the town had complied with a just requisition for soldiers. 
This committee subsequently secured the enlistment of Ichabod 
Tebbetts and David Piper for a term of three years, paying Teb- 
betts one hundred and ten dollars and Piper one hundred dollars. 

Here is a copy of the agreement made by Tebbetts in relation to 
serving as soldier : — 

"June 20, 1777. 

Received of James Conner, Joseph Lary, and Matthew S. 
Parker, committee for hiring soldiers for the town of Wolfe- 
borough for the continental army, a note of hand for thirty-three 
pounds, lawful money, which, when paid will be in full for so much 
hire money given by said town as encouragement for their service 
in the continental army for the space of three years. 

Ichabod Tebbetts" 

At the same meeting it was voted that the committee to hire 
soldiers, increased by Capt. Thomas Lucas, Moses Wingate, 
Jonathan Lary, and Reuben Libbey, should constitute the com- 
mittee to regulate prices, and should also be, for the coming year, 
the town committee of safety. 

On account of the distressed condition of the country at this 
period monopolists were demanding exorbitant prices for the 
necessaries of life. To correct this abuse, the legislature of New 
Hampshire enacted a law regulating the prices of various com- 
modities. Here are the maximum prices of the best qualities of 
the following articles, as established by that law : — 

Wheat, $1.25 per bushel ; rye, $.67 ; corn, $.58 ; oats, $.33 ; peas, 
$1.33; beans, $1.00; potatoes, $.22 to $.33; cheese, $.08 per lb.; 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



153 



butter, $.14; pork, $.06 1-2 to $.07 1-2 ; beef, $.04 1-2 ; tried tallow, 
$.10; sole leather, $.25; upper leather, in fair proportion; men's 
neat leather shoes, $1.33 a pair; West India rum, $1.11 to $1.28 
per gal., according to quantity ; New England rum. $.64 to $.75 ; 
molasses, $.56 to $.67 ; cotton, $.50 to $.60 per lb. ; flax, $.17 ; wool, 
$.36; men's yarn stockings — very long, $1.00 a pair; i yd. wide 
striped flannel, $.58 per yd. ; tow cloth, $.37, linen, and cotton and 
linen, $.60 ; bar iron, $6.67 a cwt. An increase of price was added 
for every ten miles of inland transportation. A bushel of salt at 
Wolfeborough would bring the price of four bushels of corn, or 
four days' labor. The same regulating law fixed the price of farm 
laborers at $.56 per day, other laborers receiving wages varying 
according to the customary usage. 

In the autumn of 1777 the British general, Burgoyne, was suc- 
cessfully raiding portions of our northern territory, and the gov- 
ernment determined to make a strong eflPort to check his progress 
and overthrow his army. An urgent call was made for volunteers 
for the campaign. Here is a copy of a letter from Brigadier- 
General William Whipple to Colonel Joseph Badger in relation to 
the matter : — 

"Portsmouth, 23 Sept., 1777. 

Sir: — I am desired by the House of Assembly to reccommend in the 
strongest manner to the militia of this state that, as many of them as 
can possibly leave home, do immediately equip themselves in the best 
manner possible, and march to the re-enforcement of the northern army, 
and put themselves under the officers commanding there. You will 
please inform the officers and men that they will be allowed the same 
pay, rations, and other encouragements, as are received by the other offi- 
cers and soldiers of this state. By one bold exertion we may be amply 
revenged for the execrable abuses that have been exercised by our merci- 
less foes, restore to some degree of happiness a great number of our 
northern brethren, who have been recently forced from their peaceful 
habitations, and put it out of the power of our more than savage enemy 
to evermore show their faces in that part of the country. 

I do, therefore, most emestly urge you to exert every faculty to 
stimulate the militia under your command to march without the least 
delay to the assistance of their brethren now in the field, and share 



154 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



with them the glory of vanquishing the most barbarous enemy that 
ever pretended to civilization. 

I am your Humble Servant, 

W. Whipple, Brig. Gen'l." 

Col. Badger immediately transmitted the above letter to the 
selectmen of Wolfeborough with the following endorsement on 
the back of it : — 

"Gentlemen : — 

You'll see by the within recommendation of the Court I must 
entreat you to exert every nerve, as this seems to be the critical 
moment. Send forward all the men you can get to be at my house 
by Tuesday next if possible. When the men are met the olificers 
shall be appointed as they may agree. 

I am, Gentlemen, Your Humble Servant, 

Joseph Badger, Colonel. 

Under this call the following persons immediately enlisted for 
three months: John Sinkler, John Lucas, William Lucas, Ben- 
jamin Blake, Andrew Wiggin, Moses Ham. After the capture of 
Burgoyne's army these recruits received their discharge in north- 
ern New York, and Blake gave an exhibition of his hardihood by 
walking barefoot to his home in Wolfeborough, althoug-h the 
ground for a part of the distance was covered with snow, and he 
was carrying in his knapsack a pair of new shoes. 

In 1776 or early in 1777 there was a call for a three years' soldier 
from Wolfeborough. There was an apparent reluctance on the part 
of the inhabitants to enlist, and Ebenezer Meader offered his ser- 
vices. The town authorities, unwilling to deprive the people of so 
necessary an artisan, hired Enoch Thomas for fifty dollars to take 
his place, and the blacksmith remained at home. Thomas was poor, 
and his neighbors offered to assist him in procuring an outfit for the 
army. One incident is worthy of mention. An enthusiastic 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 



155 



helper whose only pair of trousers was sadly worn, and who was 
anticipating the speedy possession of a new pair that was being 
prepared for him, in his patriotic zeal, addressing his spouse, 
cried out, "Wife, put some more patches on the old trousers. 
Thomas must have the new ones." On his return from 
the army, after the expiration of his term of enlistment, Thomas 
claimed more hire money, as other men who enlisted afterwards 
leceived a larger compensation. Some controversy with the town 
authorities followed, but the matter was finally satisfactorily ad- 
justed. 

The early calls for soldiers carried into the army as many men 
as volunteers as the country could conveniently spare, and when, 
as years went on, the conflict became more bloody and hazardous, 
patriotism, self interest, and pecuniary consideration helped to fill 
the ranks, though at great sacrifice and cost. 

In 1777 James Lucas, Thomas Lucas, and Ithiel Clifford, be- 
ing more than fifty years old, were exempted from performing 
military service ; so also was Thomas Piper, he being the miller. 

The following list of persons received an abatement of a portion 
of tlieir taxes of 1777 on account of having served as soldiers in 
the army agreeably to a vote of the town. The first column gives 
the name of the soldier serving in the army ; the second, the num- 
ber of months that he served ; the third, the amount of his tax 
abatement. 

Ichabod Tebbetts 17 

David Piper 17 

John Piper 14 

Jeremiah Gould 9 

Jonathan Lary 5 

William Rogers 5 

John Fullerton 5 

John Sinkler 3 

William Lucas 3 

John Lucas 3 



8 shillings 


10 


pence 


8 


10 




a 


7 " 


9 




a 


6 


9 




u 


2 


9 




1 


2 


9 




i( 


2 


9 




t 


I 


8 




i 


I 


8 




I 


I 


8 




i 



156 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Benjamin Blake 3 i shilling 8 pence 

Andrew Wiggin 3 i " 8 

Moses Ham 3 i " 8 " 

These abatements were in accordance with a special vote of the 
town in 1777 and not by reason of any general rule. 

A call was issued in 1778 for a convention of delegates from the 
several towns in New Hampshire to meet in Concord on the tenth 
day of June to form some suitable plan for the future government 
of the state. The citizens of Wolfeborough took the matter into 
consideration at the annual March meeting, and thus voted : "It 
is not the mind of the town to send a delegate for the purpose 
aforesaid, presuming that the expenses there will be greater than 
the present circumstances of the town will afford, or even any 
advantages that are likely to arise from such a choice." This 
action was by no means unpatriotic or indicative of indifference 
to the general welfare of the state ; but, as the expenses of the 
delegate were to be paid by the town, it seems to have resulted 
from prudent forecast, or, more probably, from stem necessity as 
the following incident would indicate. 

There was a call from the state for another soldier, and John 
Sinkler and Andrew Lucas, the agents for the town, hired Nathan 
Watson, paying him a bounty of twenty dollars and furnishing 
him with a gun, a blanket, and a knapsack. These articles were 
borrowed on the credit of the town of the following persons : the 
gun, value sixteen dollars, of Robert Calder; the blanket, value 
four dollars, of Ebenezer Meader; and the knapsack, value one 
dollar, of James Lucas, 3rd. The town eventually paid for the 
several articles. The bounty money was furnished by Moses Win- 
gate, and was subsequently allowed on the state farm taxes by his 
order. 




CO 
UJ 

z 



o 
to 



UJ 



< 



I 
o 

o 

cc 
O 

CQ 
LU 

U. 

_J 

o 
5 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The Revolution — Reuben Libbey goes to War instead of a 
Substitute — His Hay-crop harvested by a Labor Tax 
— James Fullerton and James Libbey enlist — Wiggin 
honorably discharged — Other Enlistments — New 
Hampshire furnishes the Army Rum and Beef — Pro- 
gress OF the Conflict — Bounties vainly offered — 
State supplies Town's Quota — Full List of Sol- 
diers — Their Service — Officers — Fatal Casualties — 
Town's War Debt — Farms attached for State Tax — 
Debt finally wiped out — Prospect for the Future. 

EARLY in the summer of 1779 Reuben Libbey agreed to 
furnish a soldier for a six months' campaign in the Rhode 
Island expedition. Not being able to obtain one, he himself en- 
listed. He was to receive for bounty and travel forty-six pounds 
and sixteen shillings, and have his hay-crop harvested. A labor 
tax was assessed according to the following list of "person's 
names, and the number of day's work each person was to do, 
agreeably to a vote of the town towards getting in the hay grow- 
ing on Ensign Libbey's farm to be done according to ihe direc- 
tion of Jonathan Home, and the surplus labor, if any, to be 
worked out on the highway." 

Col. Henry Rust, 3 3-4 days labor; James Conner, 2 1-4 ; Capt. 
Thomas Lucas, 21-4; William Lucas, 3-4; Capt. John Sinkler, 
I 3-4; Benjamin Evans, 2 1-4: Thomas Piper, i 1-4; Moses V^ar- 
ney, 3-4; James Lucas 3rd, i ; Doct. Cutter, 2 1-2; Grafton Nut- 
ter, 3-4 ; Andrew Folsom, 3-4 ; the estate in the care of Moses 
Wingate, 18 1-4; Moses Wingate, 3-4; Joseph Leavitt, i ; Robert 
Calder, i 3-4 ; John Kennett, 3-4 ; Aaron Frost, i 3-4 ; Abram 
Prebble, 3-4 ; Lieut. Jonathan Lary, 2 ; Joseph Keniston, 3-4 ; 

»57 



158 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., i ; Benjamin Durgm, i ; Goldsmith, 

I ; Lieut. Ebenezer Home, 6 ; Ebenezer Home, Jr., 3-4 ; Isaiah 
Home, 3-4 ; Jonathan Home, 3-4 ; Andrew Wiggin, 2 3-4 ; Jona- 
than Hersey, 13-4; Ithiel Clifford, 11-2; Lemuel CHfford, i; 
Widow Mary Fullerton, 234; John Fullerton, i 1-2; Jeremiah 
Gould, 3-4; Benjamin Blake, 2 1-2; Isaac Williams, 3-4; Robert 
Estes, I 1-2; Ebenezer Header, 2; Joseph Lary, 3; Samuel Teb- 
betts, Sr., 21-4; James Lucas, Jr., 3-4; Lieut. Andrew Lucas, 
21-4; John Lucas, 3-4; William Rogers, i; Henry Rust, 3-4; 
Richard Rust, 3-4; Matthew Stanley Parker, 31-4; Benjamin 
Wiggin, 3-4 ; amounting in the whole to 93 1-4 days work. 

Each person was to furnish his provisions and tools, and work 
in such gangs as should be arranged under the direction of Mr. 
Home. The labor was to be properly expended in "cutting, 
making, and housing" the hay on Libbey's farm, which was situ- 
ated at the most distant point of Wolfeborough Neck. For the 
money to which Libbey was entitled the town was directly re- 
sponsible, although the claim was ultimately against the state. 
The following petition, written more than eight years after Libbey 
served in the army, will explain somewhat the long delay in ad- 
justing his claim : — 

"State of New Hampshire, 

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives con- 
vened at Portsmouth: Feb. ist day, 1786. 

The petition of Reuben Libbey of Wolfborough in said state, 
Humbly shews: — that your petitioner sometime in the month 
of July, in the year 1779, engaged as a soldier in Col. Mooney's 
regiment, being mustered by Col. Badger, and went to Provi- 
dence, joined Capt. Emerson's company, and served until Sept. 
10, 1779, and was then discharged. — And your petitioner hath 
never received a penny for his time or travel, and was not made 
up in any army company or upon any roll in the regiment. — 
Wherefore your petitioner begs that he may receive the same in 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. icg 

every shape as the rest of the regiment, for the time he was in 
the service ; and your petitioner begs that he may have some in- 
terest for his money. 

Your petition, as in duty bound, shall ever pray; 

Reuben Libbey." 

It is presumed that Libbey eventually was allowed his claim, as 
it was subsequently connected with a large claim for taxes of con- 
fiscated lands that Wolfeborough preferred against the state of 
New Hampshire. These lands were lots nine, twenty, and twenty- 
one, which had been held by George Meserve, and the Wentworth 
Farm. The amount due from the state to the town for unpaid 
taxes was £386— 4s— pd. This sum, however, included Libbey 's 
bill. 

In the year 1779 Daniel Bridges, who was not a citizen of 
Wolfeborough, was mustered into the service by Col. Badger as 
a Wolfeborough soldier — a three years man. He was to receive 
a continental bounty of £60 and a state bounty of £90, the real 
value of which is not know. At a town-meeting held Sept. 7, 
1779, the citizens of Wolfeborough voted unanimously not to ac- 
cept the plan of government formed at the convention held at 
Concord the preceding June. 

At a meeting of the militia of the town held June 29, 1780, a 
majority of the legal voters being present, it was agreed to pay 
James Wiggin thirty bushels of corn and James Fullerton fifteen 
bushels of corn and twenty days work in consideration of their 
engaging to serve as soldiers in the continental army for six 
months. The proceedings were not strictly legal, but the de- 
mand for the soldiers was so urgent and the opportunity for se- 
curing them so feasible that there was no demurring on the part 
of any of the citizens, and the selectmen immediately guaranteed 
the payment of the bounties to the recruits by giving their notes 
for the payment thereof, according to the terms of agreement. 



l5o HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

The work, which was estimated at three shiUings a day, was 
to be done in the approaching hay season^ and the corn, which 
was estimated at four shillings per bushel, was to be delivered by 
the twenty-fifth day of the following December. A tax to meet 
these obligations was immediately assessed. Wiggin, who was 
nineteen, preferred his bounty in corn, which was one of the cur- 
rency articles of the day, while FuUerton, who was twenty-four 
years old, had conjointly with his mother the care of the farm, 
and must unavoidably have remained at home, had he not made 
provision for labor in the hay season then close at hand. 

The labor tax was imposed upon those citizens of the town who 
were near-by dwellers, with their consent. They were Benjamin 
Wiggin, 1-2 day; Benjamin Blake, 2 1-4 days; Jonathan Hersey, 
I 1-4 days; Ithiel Clififord, i 1-2 days; Lemuel Clififord, 3-4 day; 
Widow Mary FuUerton, on whose farm the labor was to be done, 
I 1-2 days; Jeremiah Gould, 1-2 day; Robert Estes, i 1-4 days; 
Joseph Lary, 2 days; Samuel Tebbetts, Sr., 2 1-4 days; Lieut. 
Andrew Lucas, 2 1-4 days; Ensign Reuben Libbey, 2 1-2 days; 
John FuUerton, i day ; Ebenezer Home, 2 1-2 days. Total 20 
days 

P'ullerton and Wiggin were mustered into the 3rd New Hamp- 
shire regiment, at Kingston, N. FL, July 8, 1780. Wiggin appears 
to have received his discharge at a considerable distance from 
home, as shown by the following papers : — 

"Camp Soldier's Fortune, Dec. 9, 1780. 

James Wiggin, soldier in the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment, 
inhabitant of the state of New Hampshire, is hereby discharged, 
and permitted to return to the above state. 

James Wait, Maj. 3rd N. H." 

"To whom ii may concern. — All issuing commissaries are 
desired to supply the within named James Wiggin with his pro- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. ^5^ 

Visions on his way to New Hampshire, none to be delivered 
after the 19th inst. 

James Wait, Major 3rd N. H. 

Issued two days rations.— Thomas Pratt, A. C. S. 
Wolfeboroui^h man for 6 mos." 

A call for beef under a new method of furnishing supplies for 
the army, a communication from President Weare. 

"To the selectmen of Wolfborough : As all other ways of 
supplying the army are laid aside, but that of each state to pro- 
vide such as their lands produce ; and beef being one of the articles 
assigned to this state you will see the absolute neccesity of punc- 
tually complying with this act ; and having your quota ready at 
the several times alloted, when the Collector General, viz: 
Eliphalet Giddings, or some other person will call on you for the 
same. 

M. Weare, President. 

June 27, 1780, the New Hampshire legislature had passed an 
act in acquiescence with an enactment of the congress of the 
United States of February 25 of the same year requiring the state 
to furnish 11,200 cwt. of beef in monthly instalments. The 
amount assigned to Wolfeborough was 3,875 pounds. The town 
was to be allowed five and a half dollars per cwt. provided there 
were no outstanding taxes against them. If there were, they were 
to be first deducted. 

^^ A town-meeting was held at the house of Thomas Piper at the 
"Mills" on the seventh day of September to consider the matter. 
At this meeting Lieut. Ebenezer Home, Capt. John Sinkler, and 
Joseph Lary were appointed a committee to purchase the beef. 
According to the committee's account, beef was purchased as 
follows: one yoke of oxen of Ebenezer Home, for seven thou- 
sand five hundred dollars ; one yoke of Robert Estes, for seven 



l62 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

thousand dollars ; one yoke of Andrew Lucas, for about three 
thousand five hundred dollars. Money had become greatly de- 
preciated in value, and the prices paid for the cattle determines 
only their comparative value. Those purchased of Home and 
Estes were probably quite large. They were evidently not raised 
in Wolfeborough, as neither of the men came into the town until 
about 1779. November 11, 1782, the town paid James Lucas 
thirty-seven dollars for a beef ox and Benjamin Evans eighteen 
dollars for a beef steer. These cattle were delivered in 1781, and 
were a part of the town's allotment for the state's supply of beef 
for that year. Lucas and Evans received their pay in silver 
money. 

The depreciation of the value of the currency during the Revolu- 
tionary War was a source of great perplexity and loss both to in- 
dividuals and communities. After congress had recognized the 
troops at Boston as a continental army in 1775, it became neces- 
sary to provide money for its support. Sufficient specie could not 
be obtained, and bills of credit were issued. As more money was 
needed, new emissions of these followed ; and as congress was 
unable to redeem them with specie, they began to depreciate. At 
the close of 1780, when the last emmission was made, they had 
become almost worthless, and finally became wholly so. This 
was the money in which the soldiers of the Revolution were paid, 
and this was the principal reason assigned for subsequently grant- 
ing them pensions. 

The value of one hundred dollars in specie was equal at dif- 
ferent periods to the value represented in the following table in 
currency : — 

1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 

In January $105 325 742 2934 7400 

" February 107 350 868 3322 7500 

March 109 375 1000 3736 

April 112 400 1 104 4000 

May 115 400 1215 4600 



it 



(< 



(( 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 163 

1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 

In June 120 

" July 125 

" August 150 

September 175 

October 275 

November 300 

December 310 



(( 



<( 



<< 



<< 



400 


1342 


6400 


425 


H77 


6900 


450 


1630 


7000 


475 


1800 


7100 


500 


2030 


7200 


545 


2308 


7300 


634 


2593 


7400 



On the twenty-sixth of February, 1781, the selectmen of Wolfe- 
borough issued a very urgent call for a town-meeting to be held 
on the first day of March for the purpose of determining "upon 
some proper method for procuring the town's quota of the con- 
tinental army, which, by an act of the state, appears to be five, in- 
cluding those already in the service." The meeting was held and 
organized, and after a discussion of the matter which it was called 
to consider, adjourned to the fifteenth day of the month. 

At the adjourned meeting it was decided to choose a committee 
of three to endeavor to hire men to fill the required quota. Lieut. 
Jonathan Lary, Mr. Ebenezer Meader, and Ensign Reuben Lib- 
bey were selected for the committee. They were instructed "to 
hire four men for a three years' service on the best possible terms, 
and report their doings at the annual town-meeting which was to 
be held on the 27th day of the same month." At that meeting the 
action of the special town meeting was endorsed, and the com- 
mittee for hiring soldiers continued. Some disturbing matters 
coming up, the annual meeting was adjourned to April 3. At 
the adjourned annual meeting James Conner, Andrew Wiggin, 
and James Lucas were chosen instead of the former committee 
to hire soldiers, and the meeting was then adjourned to the tenth 
day of April. y\t that adjournment the ordinary town business 
was transacted. There is no evidence that either of the commit- 
tees chosen to hire soldiers secured any ; it is probable they did 
not. 



164 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



On the twenty-seventh day of July of the same year, a town- 
meeting was held for the purpose of adopting some plan to hire 
two soldiers for three months in obedience to a call from the gov- 
ernment. The action of the town is thus recorded : "After spend- 
ing much time in the business specified in the warrant, and find- 
ing that the soldiers could not be procured by any means, the 
meeting was thereupon dissolved." 

In July, 1781, Col. Bradbury Richardson, of Moultonborough, 
sent the following communication to the militia company of 
Wolfeborough : — 

"To the company of Militia contained within the Train Band, 
so called within the town ol Wolfborough : 

Whereas by an act of the legislature of the state the regiment 
commanded by the late Col. Badger has been divided, and you 
now belong to the nineteenth regiment, a new appointment ol 
crfficers is necessary. 

You are therefore hereby notified and warned to meet at the 
house of James Conner innholder in Wolfeborough on Tuesday, 
the 7th day of August next, at One O'clock P. M. on said day to 
elect one captain, two lieutenants, and one ensign to command 
said company. At which time and place one of the field officers 
will attend to act as moderator, and deliver the commissions to 
the persons that shall be legally chosen to the several offices. 

B. Richardson, Col." 

The company met agreeably to appointment, and the following 
officers were chosen : Joseph Lary, captain ; William Lucas, first 
lieutenant ; Aaron Frost, second lieutenant ; and Enoch Thomas, 
ensign. 

The following call was soon made on Captain Lary : — 

"Moultonborough, Sept. i, 1781. 

Sir : — Pursuant to orders received from Brigadier General Bad- 
ger, you are hereby Required to raise and equip three able bodied 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 165 

men out of the company under your Command, which is your 
proportion of twenty-one men to be raised in my regiment, and 
forward to Colonel David Page of Conway, to pass muster im- 
mediately, without one minute's delay. Said men are to be im- 
proved as a Scout in Defense of the Northern Frontiers, and are 
to Serve three Months unless sooner discharged. They are to 
receive Three Pounds Bounty, and forty shillings per month equal 
to that Sum in Lawful Money in the year 1774, and are to be 
paid by the Town. The Court have voted that the Same shall 
be Allowed out of the present or next year's Tax Bill. It is the 
opinion of all the Field Officers, and General Badger, that those 
men are instead of the Three Months Men sent for to join the 
Continental Army. You'll Raise and forward the Men, and make 
return of your doings as soon as may be to 

Your Servant, 

Bradbury Richardson." 

The town secured the enlistment of David Piper, John Piper, 
and Jeremiah Sinclair, agreeing to pay them ten silver dollars a 
month for the time they were in the service. Tliey were absent 
about two months. 

Here is a copy of Capt. Jacob Smith's order to David Piper : — 

"To Sargeant David Piper : — 

You are to take charge of the party of 
men whose names are herein enclosed, and march them to Dart- 
mouth, as soon as may be, and, when there to be under the direc- 
tion of a division of the militia in that place till further orders, ex- 
cept John Piper who is to return immediately with intelligence 
of the movement in that quarter. 

You are further required to take particular care that the men 
do not waste their ammunition. 

Per Jacob Smith, Captain. 
Conway, Sept. 15, 1781." 



l66 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

List of men — David Piper, Sargeant, Jonathan Crosby, Joseph 
Crosby, Nathaniel Cilley, Sargeant Kimball, Jonathan Hilyard, 
Joseph Eaton, Keniston, Eliphalet Sias, William Weeks, John 
Piper, and Jeremiah Sinclair." 

The policy of congress to obtain its supplies for the army from 
those states producing the articles wanted, led to designating 
New Hampshire as a state to furnish rum in 1781. This article, 
though not a product of its soil, was one of its trade and manu- 
facture. Portsmouth dealt largely in fish and lumber, particu- 
larly shook, with the West Indies, receiving in exchange rum 
and molasses. Much of the latter article was distilled, and the 
town became an important distributing port for other maritime 
localities. The large sale of rum was perhaps a pecuniary benefit 
to the wealthy merchants of Portsmouth, but the money tax was 
burdensome to other towns. Wolfeborough made an assessment 
of thirty dollars to meet the requisition. 

April 24, 1782, there was a town-meeting called to ascertain 
what could be done towards procuring the town's quota of sol- 
diers. After a protracted deliberation it was voted that Ensign 
Reuben Libbey and Lieut. Jonathan Lary be a committee to hire 
the soldiers "as cheap as they can." There is no probability that 
they secured any, as another town-meeting was held on the 
twelveth day of the following June, when it was voted to pay a 
bounty of two hundred and fifty dollars to any person who would 
enlist as a soldier. No one enlisted so far as any record shows. 

Until the latter part of 1781 Wolfeborough had met the re- 
quirements of the government as to furnishing soldiers quite 
satisfactorily. It could do so no longer. It had neither the men 
for soldiers nor the means to hire them. Without either money 
or credit it could only yield to the inevitable, and in common with 
some other newly settled interior towns sufifer the penalties of 
failure. 

The following letter from Sheriff Dame will, in a measure, ex- 
plain the condition of affairs : — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 167 

"Dover, Dec. 12, 1782. 

Gentlemen : — Lest you should not have seen the action of the 
Court for lengthening the time of filling the quotas of men for 
the continental battalions, I will say that the time is extended 
to the first day of January next. The delinquent towns are 
earnestly requested to have their men raised and mustered im- 
mediately ; or to satisfy the executions against them respectively, 
for, if the soldiers are not suppHed by towns, the money will be 
needed to hire others. 

Your most Humble Servant, 

Theophilus Dame, Sherifif. 
To the selectmen of Wolfborough." 

The extension of time was too short to be of any avail to Wolfe- 
borough, and the town probably made no further efforts to en- 
list soldiers. The state of New Hampshire filled its quotas, and 
Wolfeborough was forced to settle the bill, which it eventually 
did. 

At least thirty persons who served as soldiers in the Revolu- 
tionary War were accredited to Wolfeborough. Their terms of 
service varied from two months to three years or more. Some of 
them enlisted in several campaigns. There names were Benjamin 
Blake, Thomas Bridges, Zachariah Bunker, Garrott Byron, Archi- 
bald Campbell, John Fullerton, Jeremiah Gould, James Fuller- 
ton, Moses Ham, Jonathan Lary, Joseph Leavitt, Reuben Lib- 
bey, James Lucas, 3rd, John Lucas, Thomas Lucas, William 
Lucas, Samuel Mellows, David Piper. John Piper, William 
Rogers, John Sinkler, Jeremiah Sinkler, Thomas Sproule, Enoch 
Thomas, William Twombly, Ichabod Tebbetts, Moses Tebbetts, 
Andrew Wiggin, James Wiggin, Nathan Watson. 

John and James Fullerton were brothers ; so also were David 
and John Piper. John and Jeremiah Sinkler were father and 
son. James, John, Thomas, and William Lucas were relatives ; 
so probably were Moses and Ichabod Tebbetts. Thomas Bridges, 



1 68 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

John Fullerton, Samuel Mellows, David Piper, John Piper, Enoch 
Thomas, Ichabod Tebbetts, Moses Tebbetts, and Nathan Watson 
were evidently three years soldiers. It is probable that some oth- 
ers were. 

The following soldiers were in the service at the times and un- 
der the officers here indicated : June 13, 1775, Jeremiah Gould, 
James Lucas, 3rd, Ichabod Tebbetts, and Moses Tebbetts were 
in Captain Benjamin Pitman's company in Col. Enoch Poor's 
regiment ; Dec. 23, 1776, Joseph Leavitt and John Fullerton were 
mustered into Capt. John Moody's company at Exeter ; Colonel 
Badger reports June 17, 1777, that Thomas Sproule is in Capt. 
Beal's company, Enoch Thomas, David Piper, and John Piper in 
Capt. Gray's company, and John Lary, Nathan Watson, Richard 
Sinkler, and Thomas Taylor in Capt. Nathaniel Ambrose's com- 
pany, Col. Welch's regiment. Taylor and Lary both lived in 
Wolfeborough at the beginning of the war, and were probably 
enlisted in the army as soldiers of the town, but there is no cer- 
tain evidence of it. They were both in the army, and Lary spent 
the remainder of his life in Wolfeborough. Reuben Libbey was 
in Col. Hercules Mooney's regiment, July 7, 1777. 

So far as is known, few casualties happened to the men who 
went from Wolfeborough into the army. Thomas Lucas never 
returned. He might have died or wandered into some other part 
part of the country. Thomas Bridges, Zachariah Bunker, Garrott 
Byron, Archibald Campbell, and William Twombly were transient 
persons, and did not make Wolfeborough their future home. 
Consequently, little is known of their history after entering the 
army. Nearly all those persons who were members of resident 
families returned to the town unharmed so far as is now known. 
David Piper was severely ill with smallpox, and it is very probable 
that others suffered from disease or the various ills incident to 
army life, but record and tradition are alike silent about the mat- 
ter. 

One reason whv men from Wolfeborough and others similarly 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 169 

circumstanced suffered less from camp-life than those more ten- 
derly reared was that it varied little from the life of a pioneer 
settler, coarse food, exposure, and toil being inseparable from 
either. Besides, many of the campaigns were short, being only 
from three to six months' duration. After the capture of Bur- 
goyne's army the seat of war was removed farther south. Active 
warfare is not usual in cold weather, and the forces in the camps 
and forts in the northern part of the country were generally re- 
duced. It was not advisable to feed an idle army ; it was better 
that the soldier, when practicable, should recuperate at his own 
home, not at the expense of the government. 

It was also the policy of the American officers, from their great 
commander to the lowest subaltern, to preserve Hfe rather than 
to destroy it. The English government purposed a speedy sub- 
jugation of the colonies, and therefore sent into the country large 
armies at great expense. In the matter of military strength the 
poorly equipped provincial militia-men were at a disadvantage 
when they met the well disciplined, well armed veterans of the 
British army. Had the American soldiers been rushed into 
bloody strife as were 'some of the armies of the Rebellion the 
country would have become exhausted of men, and the states 
would not at that time have secured their independence. The 
struggle must be prolonged ; crafty delays were victories to the 
Americans, a protracted war was their only hope of independence 
and a stable government ; the cost of continuing it was dishearten- 
ing to the English government, and induced it to offer terms of 
peace. 

The close of the war found Wolfeborough very much impov- 
erished. No record of its finances is extant, and its condition 
can only be inferred from certain desultory accounts of legal ac- 
tions. It was largely indebted to the state of New Hampshire, 
particularly for deficiency in raising soldiers in 1781 and 1782. 

As an evidence of the pecuniary straits of the town, here is in- 
serted a copy of a warrant for town-meeting in 1787. 



170 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



"State of New Hanip. 
Strafford ss. 
To Thomas Piper constable for the Town of Wolfborough for 
the current year, 

Greeting : — 

You are hereby directed in the name of the state of New Hamp- 
shire forthwith to notify and warn the Freeholders and others 
(inhabitants) of the town of Wolfborough to meet at the 
Dwelling House of Matthew S. Parker in said town, on Mon- 
day the 28th inst. at 2 o'clock P. M. then and there to act on 
the following business — viz — ist to choose a Moderator to regu- 
late said meeting — to see what steps the town will choose to 
take in order to satisfy two Extents levied on the selectmen 
and Collector Lary for taxes due for the years 1782 & 3 which 
extents are to be settled at or before the 12th day of June next 
• — also to transact any business which may then be tho't neces- 
sary — Given under our Hands & Seal at Wolfborough, this 
24th day of May A. D. 1787. 

Matthew S. Parker } ^ , 

_, ,, , > Selectmen 

Eben Meader ) 

Pursuant to the within warrant I have warned the Inhabitants 
of the Town of Wolfeborough to meet at time and place therein 
mentioned 

Thomas Piper, Constable. 

Wolfborough, May 28, 1787." 

January 18, 1786, Nathan Hoitt, under-sheriff, having previous- 
ly attached them by order of the state government, offered for 
sale at public vendue the farms of Capt. Reuben Libbey, William 
Cotton, and James Lucas, selectmen of Wolfeborough ; also those 
of Capt. Elias Smith, Lieut. Nathaniel Shannon, and Lieut. Smith 
Moulton, selectmen of Moultonborough, for deficiency in raising 
soldiers in 1781 and 1782. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



171 



The state tax of Wolfeborough for 1786 was about thirty 
pounds. In 1789 it had not been paid, and the farm of WiUiam 
Rogers, collector of taxes, was attached to secure it. In 1788 
there was due from Wolfeborough to the state of New Hamp- 
shire for deficiency of soldiers over five hundred dollars. In 1794 
Reuben Libbey, as agent for the town, paid thirty-six pounds in 
part payment of an extent issued by order of the state treasurer 
on account of the same matter, and in 1797 he, then acting as 
deputy sheriff, acknowledges the receipt of seventy dollars for the 
unpaid state tax of 1789. In 1799, sixteen years after the close 
of the war, Henry Rust, Jr., then state representative, by direc- 
tion of the town, made the last payment for deficiency of soldiers. 

Here follows a list of the tax-payers in Wolfeborough in 1781 
arranged according to the value of the taxes assessed against each 
respectively. It is not claimed that such a list is a true criterion 
by which to determine the relative value of a person's possessions 
on account of varying circumstances, but it furnishes a general 
clew to it : — 

Cabbott Farm, Lieut. Ebenezer Home, Col. Henry Rust, Ben- 
jamin Evans, Matthew S. Parker, Ensign Reuben Libbey, Ben- 
jamin Blake, James Connor, Lieut. Andrew Lucas, Lieut. Wil- 
liam Lucas, Lieut. Jonathan Lary, Samuel Tebbetts, Joseph Lary, 
Jeremiah Gould, Robert Calder, Robert Estes, Widow Mary Ful- 
lerton, Andrew Wiggin, Ebenezer Meader, James Lucas, 3rd, 
Capt. John Sinkler, William Rogers, Jonathan Hersey, Enoch 
Thomas, John Fullerton, Aaron Frost, Benjamin Durgin, Thomas 
Piper, Lemuel CHfiford, Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., Abraham Prebble, 
Moses Varney, James Lucas, Jr., Samuel Hide, Joseph Keniston, 
Joseph Leavitt, Thomas Triggs, Doct. Cutter for the "Mills," 
John Emerson, Benjamin Wiggin, Isaiah Home, Edmund Teb- 
betts, Shortridge, John Lucas, Joseph Estes, Ichabod 

Tebbetts, Henry Rust. Jr., Daniel Piper. The following named 
persons probably paid only a poll tax : John Piper, Richard Rust, 
Ebenezer Home, Jr., Stephen Home, James Lucas, John Hide, 



172 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Capt. John Martin, Timothy Johnson, WiUiam Gordon, William 
Cotton, Thomas Smith, Thomas Baker — sixty tax payers and 
fifty-eight polls. 

The inventory of 1782 represents the town as having 63 acres 
of tillage land, 325 acres of mowing land, and 351 acres of pas- 
turage ; ^2 horses, 60 oxen, 100 cows, 25 three years old, 30 two 
years old, and 20 one year old cattle. The value of buildings was 
estimated at three thousand and fifteen dollars, one thousand 
being the state farm buildings. Here is inserted a portion of an 
inventory found in loose manuscript : — 

Hide, wife, six children, one house. 

Durgin, wife. 

Calder, wife, eight children, one house, one barn. 

Shortridge, wife, four children. 

Frost, wife, seven children. 

Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., wife, six children, one house, one barn. 

Joseph Keniston, wife, two children, one barn. 

Joseph Leavitt, wife, two children, one house, one barn. 

Furbur, wife, three children, one house. 

Prebble, seven children. 

Glynn, one house, one barn. 

Cabbott, one house, two bams, one stable. 

John Lary, wife, two children, one house, one barn. 

Triggs, wife, one child. 

Durgin, wife, five children, one house, one barn. 

This inventory was confined to the northeasterly part of the 
town, and comprised about one-third of the population of Wolfe- 
borough. Not including the Glynn and Cabbotts establishments, 
it numbered fourteen families with fifty-five children and a popu- 
lation of eighty-three which the laborers on the Cabbott farm 
would have increased to nearly one hundred. It had ten houses 
and ten barns. A note indicates that there were in the town 
thirty-three houses, thirty-seven barns, and a population of two 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



173 



hundred and seventy-four. From this invoice it may be inferred 
that very few families came to Wolfeborough during the war, 
and that the moderate increase in the number of its inhabitants 
may be chiefly attributed to births and the growth of children. 

In 1786 a census of the town was taken by order of the state, 
but for some cause the selectmen failed to report a particular ac- 
count of it, and the aggregate only is known, which is three hun- 
dred and seventeen, three hundred and one residents and sixteen 
transients, or hired persons. 

From the foregoing statements the condition of Wolfeborough 
at the close of the Revolutionary War may be inferred. After the 
departure of Governor Wentworth's attaches the population of 
the town consisted of persons in moderate circumstances or ex- 
tremely poor, generally with large and increasing families of chil- 
dren. 

The demand of the new government for men and means to 
carry on the war were even at the first very urgent ; but they 
were met with commendable alacrity, although at great sacrifice, 
until 1 78 1. At that period the resources of the town in both 
particulars had become exhausted, and it could no longer answer 
its calls. In financial matters a complete collapse had occurred. 
In desperation it offered large bounties for soldiers, but its ability 
to meet its pledged obligations was discredited, and there were no 
enlistments. So far as furnishing aid to the state government it 
was helplessly bankrupt ; yet there was hope in the more or less 
distant future. Although comparatively few persons had come 
within its borders for the purpose of settlement for nearly a de- 
cade, its own population had been kept quite intact, and the 
young mind and muscle which had been developing in families 
during the seven years' conflict was very encouraging prospective 
capital. But there must be a season of waiting and pinching. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

EsTES Family — Cotton Family — Rogers Family — Hersey 
Family — Martin Family — Brief sketches of other 
Families. 

THE war being over, sketches of families and persons will 
be resumed and continued for a space. Robert Estes 
came to Wolfeborough about 1778, probably from New Dur- 
ham, where, it is said, he carried on tanning and shoe-making. 
He was evidently a person of considerable business capacity, 
as he was elected auditor, an office that comparatively few 
Wolfeborough citizens were then capable of filling. He sold to 
the town one large yoke of oxen for army beef, most likely raised 
on his farm in New Durham. He was born Feb. 18, 1750 and his 
wife, Sarah Hanson, Aug. 23, 1754. Their children were: Han- 
nah, born Nov. 12, 1774, married David Wentworth, of Milton; 
Susannah, born Oct. 8, 1776, married James Roberts, of Ossipee ; 
Elijah, born Jan. 13, 1779, married Martha Roberts ; Lydia, bom 
June 18, 1781, married John Bufifum, of Berwick ; Elizabeth, born 
April 12, 1783. After remaining in Wolfeborough a few years it 
is said that Estes returned to New Durham. 

His son Elijah, when quite young, married Martha Roberts, 
and entered on the business of shoe-making. About 1805 he pur- 
chased the most southerly of the fifty-acre lots, that which James 
Lucas had given to his son Nehemiah, and built a house near that 
never-failing fountain of water still known as the "Estes Spring." 
Here he resided during his lifetime, and reared a family of chil- 
dren, as follows : 

Sarah, born Oct. 18, 1806, married Daniel Deland; Robert, 
born April 20, 1808. married Betsey Shepherd ; Hannah, born 
June 18, 1810, married Daniel Shepherd; James, born Jan. 20, 
174 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



175 



1813. married Louisa Roberts ; John, born December 10, 1818, 
married Emily Harden. 

He was not an affluent, but very industrious citizen, working 
at his trade and ordinary farm labor. He cut and cleared the road 
which leads past the Charles S. Paris farm-house to the Hersey 
Brook, a distance of nearly two miles, for four dollars. He be- 
queathed the farm to his son Robert, who was obligated to sup- 
port his widowed mother. She survived her husband many years. 
Mr. Estes' sons had a great passion for hunting, Robert becom- 
ing especially noted as a hunter. His son, Jonathan P., is a man 
of unusually large size, being six feet four inches in height and 
proportionally broad. 

James Estes had four daughters : Anna R., born June, 1845, 
married David Bennett, of Tuftonborough ; Maria B., born Oct. 
22, 1848, married Edward Farnham, of Milton ; Sophia, born 
Oct. 5, 1850, married Frank H. Young, of Tuftonborough ; Louisa, 
born Oct. 21, 1853, married Charles H. Tutt, of Lynn, Mass. 

Colonel William Cotton was born in Portsmouth, Feb. 29, 1738. 
He served as a soldier in the French and Indian War, and after- 
wards became a colonel in the New Hampshire militia. October 
20, 1 761, he married Mary Clark, who was born Dec. 17, 1737, 
and died in Wolfeborough, March 17, 1798. Col. Cotton came 
to Wolfeborough in 1781, and settled on the farm now owned by 
his great grandson, Albert W. Cotton. He soon opened one of 
the little taverns so common at that period, and also began re- 
tailing goods in a small way. The store which he occupied is now 
a part of the farm-house kitchen. He took with him to Wolfe- 
borough eight children whose ages ranged from one to eighteen 
years. Two had previously died in Portsmouth, and two that 
were born after his arrival in Wolfeborough were short lived. The 
other eight married, had, in the aggregate, fifty-nine children, and 
reached an average age of seventy-one years. Col. Cotton was 
evidently a man of means, as he soon purchased a large tract of 
land, much of which still remains in the possession of his 



/ 



176 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



descendants. Six of his seven sons settled in his immediate 
neighborhood. At one time there were twelve farms comprising 
sixteen hundred acres of land, most of which was in a compact 
body, owned by persons of the Cotton name and blood. 

His oldest son, William, at first settled in Wolfeborough, but 
afterwards removed to Castine, Maine. A son of his, also named 
William, returned to Wolfeborough and became a prominent citi- 
zen of the town. He served seven years as selectman, dying while 
in office. Dudley P. Cotton, a son of his, went to the West Indies 
and became wealthy. Subsequently he returned to Wolfeborough, 
and purchased a farm in the neighborhood where he was born, 
purposing to make it his future abode. He contributed quite 
generously for the improvement of the highways and schools in the 
neighborhood, but not receiving so ardent co-operative response 
to his acts as he desired, he disposed of his property and returned 
to his island home, where he soon after died. 

John P. Cotton, the second son of William, the settler, took a lot 
of land next to Brooktield line, near the site of the East Wolfe- 
borough church. It proved to be one of the best farms in Wolfe- 
borough. He married Betsy Allen, of Ossipee, and had nine 
children. He lived to the age of seventy-six years. 

Thomas Cotton took the lot of land lying northwest of John's 
and adjoining it. He married Martha Furber, of Wolfeborough, 
and had six children. He was deacon of the Freewill Baptist 
church, and occasionally preached. He died at the age of eighty 
years. 

James Cotton's farm lay south of that belonging to Thomas. 
He married Betsy Robinson, of Brookfield, by whom he had four 
children. He was eighty-seven years old when he died. 

Isaac Cotton married Eliza Martin, of Brookfield, by whom he 
had eight children. He died at the age of seventy-two years. 

George C. Cotton settled near Nute's Ridge, where now resides 
his grandson, George C. Avery. He married Sally, daughter of 




NATHANIEL ROGERS 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 1 77 

Col. Mark Wiggin and had four children. He died at the age of 
sixty-five years. 

Samuel Cotton married Sally Fernald, of Brookfield, by whom 
he had six children. His farm was on the north side of Cotton 
Mountain, adjoining the Thomas Cotton lot. He lived to be 
seventy-one years old. His son, Brackett F. Cotton, resides on 
the home place. 

Mary Cotton married Robert Pike, of Middleton, and was the 
mother of ten children. She died at the age of fifty-live years. 

For two generations the descendants of Col. William Cotton 
were quite noted for demonstrations of religious enthusiasm ; so 
much so as to give character to the neighborhood called Cotton- 
borough. Latterly this family trait has not been especially notice- 
able. About the time that William Cotton settled in Wolfe- 
borough a brother named Thomas came to the town, and com- 
menced a settlement on the Isaac Rindge lot. He afterwards re- 
turned to Rockingham County. Col. Cotton's family were stal- 
warts. He was six feet and four inches in height ; his sons aver- 
aged six feet and one inch in height and two hundred pounds in 
weight, while a grandson, Henry, was six and a half feet in height 
and weighed three hundred pounds. Col. Cotton died September 
8, 1721, aged eighty-three years. 

The ancestors of the Rogers family were probably Scotch- 
Irish. If so, it can boast of as good blood as flows in American 
veins. New Hampshire had quite an infusion of it in early times, 
some of the best citizens of the province and state being of that 
race, among them, Horace Greely. 

James Rogers, of Portsmouth, settled in Rochester in 1734, 
probably at the location now known as Hayes' Crossing, as here 
was the Rogers' stopping-place on the route from Portsmouth 
in Governor Wentworth's time. He was accompanied by his son 
Charles, who, m 1747, married Mary, the daughter of John Mc- 
DufYee, and four years after purchased his father's farm. He 
appears to have been an enterprising citizen of Rochester, and 



178 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



was several times elected one of the board of selectmen. Some 
years after, having received a grant from the King of England of 
two thousand acres of land at Merry Meeting for meritorious ser- 
vices while acting as lieutenant in the French and Indian War, 
he removed to that place, and commenced lumbering. With 
the aid of his sons, Samuel and William, he built a sawmill. While 
here he came to the meadows on Lake Wentworth in the summer, 
and harvested hay, which he stacked. His son William, a mere 
lad, spent the next winter there taking care of four oxen that were 
protected from the weather by a hovel built of logs. He was, un- 
doubtedly, the first white person who hibernated within the limits 
of Wolfeborough. During his seclusion he was visited only oc- 
casionally by members of the family bringing food. 

William Rogers came to Wolfeborough as a settler in 1776, 
when he was twenty years old. He was a member of the militia 
company which was that year organized. Probably his father, 
Lieutenant Charles, came to the town about the same time, and 
thereafter made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Lary. 
Having been much exposed to hardships as a soldier, hunter, and 
pioneer settler, he appears to have somewhat prematurely aged. 
Being incapacitated for labor when he came to Wolfeborough, he 
spent most of his time in fishing either from the shore or on the 
ice of the lake. To protect himself from the severity of cold 
weather, he had a seat constructed and boarded on three sides, a 
sort of rude forerunner of the little fish-houses that now dot the 
surface of Wolfeborough Bay in the winter season. On one 
occasion his structure was seized by a fierce nor'-wester, and he, 
though vigorously protesting, made a speedy visit to Clark's 
shore. As years increased he became blind, and weakened by 
seniHty, the pastime of fishing became such a passion that he 
contmued the avocation, although frequently annoyed by mis- 
chievous boys, who would tug at his line in imitation of a fish-bite. 

William Rogers was born in Rochester, February 8, 1756. In 
1779 he purchased a one-hundred-acre lot of David Sewall for 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUaH. 



179 



four pvounds of Spring beaver fur. It was situated on the north- 
westerly side of Smith's River. January 25, 1780, he married 
Mary Chamberlain, of Rochester, and soon after erected a house 
on his lot. This house was located a little south of the present 
site of the Christian church. A portion of it is still standing. It 
was formerly used as a small inn, and here sometimes town meet- 
ings were held. A part of it was also occupied as a store. In this 
house, October 19, 1792, was organized the Freewill Baptist 
church, which now worships in Wolfeborough Falls, being the 
first church organized in Wolfeborough. In it also, six days later, 
was ordained Isaac Townsend, the first person set apart to the 
work of the ministry in the town. In the afternoon of the same 
day, however, Ebenezer Allen was ordained as the town minister 
at the meeting-house. 

It is not now known whether Mr. Rogers ever professed piety. 
His sympathies, however, were with the Baptists, and his wife 
became a member of that church within a few weeks after its 
organization. Until the erection of school-houses religious meet- 
ings were frequently held at his house on the Sabbath and at 
other times. Mr. Rogers not only cleared and improved his 
farm, but did considerable business on his own account in buying 
and selling lands. He was several times elected on the board of 
selectmen, and for many years had the custody of the grain taxes 
paid by the inhabitants of the south side of the town. His first 
wife, who bore him six children, died September 10, 1795, and 
the following year he married Mary Connor, by whom he had 
eight children. Twelve of the fourteen reached mature age. He 
died April 28, iBio. He bequeathed the home place to his son 
Nathaniel, in whose care he left his widow and the younger chil- 
dren. The trust was most faithfully executed. 

The names of his children by his first wife were John, Eleanor, 
William, Nathaniel, David, and Mary, or Polly, as she was 
familiarly called. Those by his second wife were James, Samuel 
C. Daniel, Nancy, Susan, Hannah, Jane, and Phcebe C. 



l8o HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Three of his sons, William, David, and Samuel C, at an early 
age left home and started out in life for themselves in Salem, 
Mass., but soon removed to Boston where they continued in the 
mercantile business until about 1815. They then removed with 
their families to the West, and finally located at Cincinnati, where 
they settled permanently in business. Many of their descendants 
continue to reside there. 

Nathaniel and James married and settled in their native town, 
the latter marrying Clarissa Wiggin. About 1840 he moved to 
Stetson, Me., where in addition to managing a large farm, he con- 
ducted an extensive lumbering business, and held important 
offices in the town. He ever remained much attached to his 
Wolfeborough home and early associates, visiting the town very 
frequently during his life. He died 13ecember 30, 1878. 

Eleanor Rogers married Samuel Meader ; Mary (Polly), 
Thomas Chamberlain, of Brookfield ; Nancy, William Thomas ; 
Susan, Alpheus Swett ; Hannah, Isaac Copp, of Tuftonborough ; 
and Phoebe, Samuel Thompson. Daniel and Jane died in infancy. 

At the time of his father's death Nathaniel Rogers was less than 
twenty-five years of age. There was a large family of younger 
brothers for whom he was to provide a home. He immediately 
commenced making the arrangements to build a house. This he 
completed in 181 2. It was a large two-storied building situated 
on the opposite side of the road from where his father had erected 
one about thirty years before. It remained in the possession of 
the family about seventy years. In February 16, 1815, Mr. Rogers 
married Martha, daughter of Richard Rust, by whom he had 
seven children, all of whom are now deceased. His wife died in 
1832, and he afterwards married Eleanor Jane, daughter of John 
L. Piper. She bore him three children, Nathaniel Piper, John, 
and Lucy M. These are now living, John being a resident of 
Wolfeborough. Mr. Rogers had more than an ordinary share of 
domestic cares, at first acting the part of a parent to his younger 
brothers and sisters, and then rearing his own large family of 




Q 
< 

LU 

t- 

co 
Hi 

O 

X 

CO 

en 

UJ 

O 
O 
a: 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. igl 

children. He was a capable and busy man ; besides managing 
and improving his large and valuable farm, he had charge of the 
sawmill situated at the lower falls on Smith's River, where he 
manufactured a large amount of lumber, running his mill with 
double crews. It is not improbable that he owned the mill for 
several years ; nor is it unlikely that he built the house now occu- 
pied by the widow of Charles H. Parker, as there was connected 
with that a store which he occupied, and which is now the one- 
story house situated on Center Street opposite the residence of 
W. B. Hodge. He also engaged in a variety of enterprises, being 
an owner of one-fourth of the Pickering Factory. While con- 
ducting the lumber business at the "Mills." he resided temporarily 
in the Kent house, now occupied by Charles L. Home, 2nd. He was 
a level-headed, active, public-spirited citizen, neither a bigot in 
religion nor a narrow partisan in politics. He seems not to have 
been ambitious for office, although he represented the town of 
Wolfeborough in the legislature and was one of the first judges 
cf *^he Court of Common Pleas in Carroll County, serving fron_i 
284! to 1846. 

On the matter of liquor selling he was in advance of the pre- 
vailing sentiment of the town in his day. As a proof of his free- 
dom from bias, it is related that when the building of churches in 
Wolfeborough was first agitated, he suggested that one should be 
erected on the Brick Schoolhouse Hill for the joint occupancy of 
the Congregationlists and the Freewill Baptists, those then being 
the predominating sects in the compact part of the village. 

James, son of James Hersey, of Newmarket, reared a family 
of ten children. Two of them, Jonathan, bom in 1846. and 
Jemima, born in 1850, settled in Wolfeborough. Jemima married 
John Piper. The other children settled in Sanbornton. Jonathan 
Hersey, in 1771, received of Daniel Pierce, of Portsmouth, a deed 
of one hundred and forty acres of land, a portion of the "Great 
Lot." Mr. Hersey is sp'jken of elsewhere in this volume. He had 
nine children. 



lg2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Tames, a son of Jonathan, had one son, George W., who spent 
his life in this town. He was born January i, 1805, and in early 
life was much intereste.i in military matters. Passing through the 
lower grades, he finally became brigadier-general of the N. H. 
militia and was for many years known by that title. He farmed 
somewhat extensively and owned the large limber tract 
known as Hersey's woods. He served twice as selectman. He 
married November 19, 1829, Mary E. Wiggin, who still survives 
him.. Their children were : James Albert, born November 22, 
1830, died young; Charles H., born December 23, 1832; Albert 
James, born March 3, 1835 ; Dana Samuel, born November 14, 
1837; Ann Eliza, born January 11, 1840; Emily Caroline, born 
January 20, 1843; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 24, 1846; Abby 
Helen, born March 19, 1850. 

Charles H., son of George W., graduated at Dartmouth College 
and was for a short time preceptor of the Wolfeborough and Tuf- 
ton borough Academy. The greater part of his life has been spent 
in business, however, in Boston and Wolfeborough. He has 
served on the school board and in various minor official capacities. 
He married July 20, 1865, Olivia Mason. He has one daughter, 
Nellie O., born May 8, 1866, who married Dr. Edwin H. Ross, 
of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and has two children. 

John B., son of Jonathan, occupied the farm on which for many 
years lived his son, James P. He married Ruth Nudd, March 14, 
1813. He died August 21, 1853. His children were: Mary, 
born December i, 1814; John, born March 14, 1816; William H., 
born September 10, 1818 ; James P., born November 6, 1822 ; 
Erastus, born November 6, 1824; Hannah N., born January 28, 
1828; Samuel N., born June 11, 1831. 

James P. married Clarissa J. Willey and had one son, Eddy 
E., born July 11, 1854, who has since the death of his father man- 
aged the home farm. 

Samuel N. has been a merchant and manufacturer of clothing. 
He married. May 9, 1857, Susan E. Copp, by whom he had one 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 183 

son, Oma, who died young. He married, June 6, 1877, Catherine 
M. Leighton, of Portsmouth. The children are: Parry T., born 
January 16, 1880. married Edna E. Sanborn, and has one child, 
Louise Elizabeth; Ralph S., born July 17, 1882. 

Elijah Hersey, son of Jonathan, settled on the farm on Pine 
Hill now occupied by Henry G. Home. He married Hannah 
Tibbetts. Children: Druzilla, born 181 1; Mary A., born 1813; 
Levi T., born 1816; Asa D., born 1818; Ezra B., born 1820; 
Julia A., born 1822. 

Jonathan Hersey, son of Jonathan, settled on the farm now 
occupied by the family of his son, William P. Children : William 
P., born February 7, 1826; Woodbury L., born March 9, 1829; 
Winthrop D., born February 4, 1830; Hannah, born March 27, 
1834, married B. F. Mason. Two sons named Charles died 
young. 

William P. Hersey was a farmer ; settled on the old homestead ; 
married Lucinda Avery ; died January 18, 1887. Children : 
Charles F., born August 23, 1859 ; Anna J., born October 30, 1863, 
married Charles Basset ; Virgil P., born January 27, 1871. 

Woodbury L. Hersey was a laborer. He married Louise Nute, 
by whom he had one son, George F., born April 7, 1864. Wood- 
bury died May 29, 1875. 

Winthrop D. Hersey is a carpenter. He married Georgiana 
Guptil. Children : M. Annie, bom April 19, 1857, married George 
R. Wilson, of Oxford, Me.; Charles D., born January 15, 1859, 
married Nellie Frances, has one daughter, Annie ; Frank E., born 
May. t86i, married Marie C. Chamberlain; Fred E.,born Septem- 
ber 23, 1862, married Anna M. McDonald, who died in 1899, 
leaving a daughter, Elta. 

John Martin came to Wolfeborough as an agent of the Cabots 
in 1780. Isaac Martin, his son, then six years old, accompanied 
him. When he was twenty-one years old, Isaac began felling 
trees on the Banfield farm, but finding the growth very heavy, 
he gave up the attempt to clear land there and took up a portion of 



184 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the Governor Wentworth farm. Here he Hved until his death 
at the age of eighty-nine years. This farm, on what has long been 
known as Martin's Hill, is now owned by Stephen W. Clow, Esq. 
Isaac Martin's children were: Daniel, born November 26, 1802; 
George, died young ; Betsy, died young ; Maria, married Daniel 
Chamberlain, of Boston ; Betsy, married Henry Emery, of Lowell. 

Daniel Martin was a farmer. He did much surveying and 
administrative business, served as selectman six times and repre- 
sentative twice. He died June 7, 1874. His children were: 
George B., who spent most of his life in Boston and New York ; 
Almira A., died young ; Leander, died young ; Edgar, died young ; 
James H., born August 17, 1841 ; EHzabeth P., married Edwin C. 
Newell ; Lois, born January 6, 1846, married John Eaton. 

James H. Martin married' Mary, the daughter of Samuel 
Huggins, and for a time lived on the home farm. He afterwards 
carried on the Huggins farm, and in 1887 moved to a handsome 
residence which he had erected in Wolfeborough village, where he 
has since resided. Like his father, he has done considerable sur- 
veying and has had the administration of many estates. He has 
served five terms as selectman and once as representative, also 
as member of the school board, as precinct fireward, and has 
held many minor offices. Mr. Martin has, during a useful life in 
his native town, won an enviable reputation for ability and honesty 
in the many public positions to which he has been called, and has 
liberally supported all movements for the public welfare. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Ebenezer Hornk and his success as a Road-Builder — Some- 
thing OF HIS Family — Why "Goose Corner" was so- 
called — Roads built in All Directions — History and 
Description of the Ossipee Road — Otpier important 
Roads laid out since 1800 — The Village Streets. 

THE tract of land situated north of Smith's River and extend- 
ing to the John Fullerton farm, bounded on one side by the 
Miles Road and on the other by the lake, contained about fifteen 
hundred acres exclusive of Wolfeborough Neck. It included 
most of the Rogers farm, the farms of the seven settlers, and 
four or five hundred acres of land lying between the Widow 
Fullerton's lot and that of her son John. This land was in the pos- 
session of John Flagg, who, in 1777, exchanged it with Ebenezer 
Home, of Dover for real estate in that town. Mr. Home removed 
to Wolfeborough with several well grown sons. The highway 
leading to Tuftonborough was on the border of his land, and as 
he wished to utilize this in furnishing sites for homes for himself 
and sons, it would be for the advantage of the family to have a 
change in the direction of the road. The route of the Miles Road 
as it then ran was preferable for easy travel to the present high- 
way, but Mr. Home, who was a man of means and energy, had the 
address to bring about the desired change. 

It will probably be remembered that the Miles Road was opened 
before the town had a single inhabitant at the expense of the town 
proprietors, and perhaps its width was not definitely described. 
It began at the cove in Lake Winnipesaukee and at the head line 
of Col. Rust's lot, and followed the same general course as does 
the present Main Road as far as the residence of Jonas W. Piper, 
thence forward in the same general direction to the dwelling of 
Alfred Brown, and from there in a quite direct line to the John 

185 



l86 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 

Fullerton lot, which bordered on Tuftonborough. In 1779 the 
town instructed the highway surveyors, John Sinkler and Joseph 
Lary to lay out such a road, as is shown by their report, here sub- 
joined. 

"We, the subscribers, surveyors of the highways for the south 
side of the town of Wolfborough, have this day laid out and 
spotted a road four rods wide from Wolfborough line adjoining 
the Gore thro' the land belonging to Doct. Ammi Ruhamah Cut- 
ter, Col. Henry Rust, and Captain Thomas Lucas to the main 
road leading thro' the land belonging to James Conner, being the 
road now used as the main road for the south side of the town, 
and continuing the same course said road now runs until it comes 
to the land belonging to Ebenezer Meder and Robert Estes, where 
it then turns from its present course at the corner of the line be- 
tween said Meder and Estes, and runs thro' said Estes' land on 
the south side of his dwelling house to land belonging to Ben- 
jamin Blake, and running nearly upon a straight line thro' said 
Blake's land to the Widow Mary Fullerton's lot, and continuing 
nearly a straight course thro' said Fullerton's land on the east 
side of the buildings thereon to the land belonging to Lieut. 
Ebenezer Home, and continuing a straight course, being nearly a 
northwest point, to a brook running through said land commonly 
known by the name of Meserve Brook, then crossing said brook 
and running nearly a northerly point to the road now used as the 
main road thro' said town near the dwelling house belonging to 
John Fullerton, and continuing the same course with said road to 
Tuftonborough line. — 

The above road being laid out by us, the subscribers, in con- 
sequence of a vote of the town for that purpose, to be an estab- 
lished road thro' the south side of said town. 

Given under our hands at Wolfborough, the ninth day of Sep- 
tember, 1779. 

John Sinkler ) Surveyors of 
Joseph Lary 5 the highways." 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 187 

It will be observed that the Main Road as here laid out ex- 
tended about one mile farther south than did the original Miles 
Road, and reached New Durham line where Wolfeborough and 
the Gore (Alton ) then adjoined that town ; from thence it passed 
through land belonging to Cutter, Rust, and Lucas to that in the 
possession of James Connor. 

The land represented as belonging to Cutter was the balance of 
the Bryant reserve lot of ten hundred and fifty acres after the Rust 
lot of six hundred had been taken from it. It comprised four 
hundred and fifty acres, and was situated in the southwest part of 
the town. April 12, 1769, the town proprietors voted to sell the 
land for one shilling an acre, the purchaser to settle a family as a 
proprietor. A. R. Cutter, Geo. Meserve, and John Parker were 
appointed a committee to give a conveyance of it. They evidently 
did not dispose of it, and it was subsequently divided into fifty- 
acre-lots, and Dr. Cutter was authorized to sell it. It is not known 
that as an individual he had a title to any part of it. The road 
was also laid out through land of Thomas Lucas. This must 
have been a portion of lot fourteen (Treadwell's), situated be- 
tween the Rust lot and what has since been known as the Ban- 
field farm, as James Connor's land, which amounted to nearly 
three hundred acres, is supposed to have included that location. 

It is probable that when Ebenezer Home first came to Wolfe- 
borough no one of his sons had reached his majority, although 
Isaiah was evidently nearly twenty-one. Perhaps no efifort was 
then made to determine the precise number of acres that his lot 
contained, as its boundaries were well defined. With the liberal 
allowance in measurement permitted at that time there would not 
be less than five hundred acres. This he divided equally or nearly 
so among the members of the family who made their homes in 
Wolfeborough, taking a double portion for himself and Isaiah, 
whose property interests appear to have been combined. How 
much improved land any one of the family possessed in 1794 is 
not known, but of wild (unimproved) land they in that year re- 



l88 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

spectively held as follows: Isaiah, one hundred and seventy-six 
acres ; Stephen, eighty ; Benjamin, eighty-three ; John, eighty ; and 
Ebenezer, seventy-five. The farms were thus located : Isaiah and 
his father's was situated where now resides Mrs. Ellen Home ; 
Stephen's, where now dwells his grandson, Oscar ; Benjamin had 
the one now occupied by John Henry Home ; John, that near the 
lake-shore. It is not clear where Ebenezer's lot was situated. It 
is known that Copp's tavern was built on land that he once owned. 

The advent of the Home family was promotive of the interests 
of the town. Mr. Home, though uneducated, possessed sound 
judgment and business tact that qualified him for responsible po- 
sitions. He was in a better financial condition than most of the 
inhabitants, and this increased his ability to be helpful. He was 
one of the committee for supplying beef for the army in 1781, and 
was able to furnish a large yoke of oxen for the town on credit. 
His stock at the time consisted of one horse, four oxen, five cows, 
and six young cattle. Though himself unlearned, he sought to 
impress on his children the importance of acquiring knowledge, 
and their attainments were quite creditable. 

Isaiah was the most ambitious of the sons. He, in 1782, taught 
the second term of school kept in town. It continued three 
months, and he received in wages, including his board, thirty-three 
dollars. By private contributions from him and two other young 
men with the money raised by taxation, Dudley Leavitt, the 
"almanac maker," was induced to keep a term of school in Wolfe- 
borough, giving instruction in some of the higher branches of 
knowledge. By legislative enactment he had the H dropped from 
his family name, assigning as a reason a desire to have the 
ortheopy and orthography agree. His descendants have univer- 
sally written it Orne. 

He married Mary, the third daughter of Col. Henry Rust, by 
whom he had these children : 

Isaiah Green, born July 31, 1783, married Sarah Raynard ; 
Henry Harvey, bom Feb. 21, 1786, married Caroline Chapin ; 



HISTORY OP WOLFEBOROUGH. 



189 



Mary Ann, born Jan. 31, 1789, died Oct. 16, 1808; Hariet Silver, 
born Aug. 31, 1791, married John Home, Jr. ; Charles Balker, 
born May 16, 1794, married EHsabeth Lane; Frederick B. T., 
born Feb. 24, 1796; died Apr. 17, 1822; Woodbury L., born May 
7, 1798, died July 31, 1823; Mary Anne, born Nov. 17, t8o8, 
married Stephen Home. To his children he gave unusual op- 
portunities for obtaining an education, which they faithfully im- 
proved. His eldest son, Isaiah Green, married Margaret, the 
daughter of Daniel Raynard, who was the last proprietor of the 
Governor Wentworth farm. They lived to be aged, and spent 
the latter part of their lives in Middleton, N. H. Two of his sons 
probably had a collegiate training, Henry Harvey and Woodbury 
L. The former practiced law at Meredith Bridge, now Laconia. 
The latter was the first preceptor of Sanbornton Academy, and 
had associated with him his brother, Frederick B. T., as teacher, 
and Miss Caroline Chapin, of Cambridge, Mass., as preceptress. 
Frederick died in 1822, aged twenty-six years, and Woodbury, in 
1823, aged twenty-five years. Miss Chapin, who had been the 
fiancee of Woodbury, married his brother, Henry Harvey, who, 
becoming dissatisfied with the practice of law, retired to his estate 
in Wolfeborough, where he spent the remainder of his life. He 
was honorable and intelligent, though quite eccentric, and not 
fancying all the methods adopted by members of the legal pro- 
fession, chose the quiet of his rural home to the noisy bickerings 
of the court-room. Mrs. Orne possessed considerable literary 
talent, and wrote many magazine articles. They had no children, 
and led a very secluded life. 

Isaiah Orne occupied many important positions and did much 
public business. His brother, Stephen W. Home, although very 
capable, was disinclined to hold public trusts, and often refused 
to accept ofifices to which he had been elected. He had five chil- 
dren ; Ebenezer, the same number; Benjamin, at least a dozen. 
John, who married Jane, the fourth daughter of Col. Henry Rust, 
had fifteen. Thev were : 



IQO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Nancy, born Aug. 13, 1787, married Thomas Chamberlin, of 
Brookfield; John, born Feb. 20, 1789, married Hariet Silver 
Home; Thomas, born March 24, 1790, died March 24, 1794; 
Betsy, born Dec. 11, 1791, died January 8, 1792; Betsy Adams, 
born Feb. 4, 1793, married William Chamberlain ; Polly, born 
July 18, 1794, married Aaron Wiggin ; Rhoda, born September 
22, 1796, married Stephen Piper ; Jane Rust, born Apr. 26, 1797, 
died Apr. 10, 1830; Hannah, born July 13, 1799, married Enoch 
Thomas; Richard, born Oct. 16, 1800, married Lydia Eaton; 
Lydia, born June 22, 1802, died May 17, 1826; Frances, born 
Sept. 9, 1803; Sally, born March 20, 1805, married George Wen- 
dell; William Rust, born June 20, 1807, married Mary I. Baily; 
Isaiah Waldron, born Feb. 15, 1809, married Mrs. Mary J. Home. 

Ebenezer Home, the patriarch of the family, was an unusually 
vigorous person. He m.arried at the age of eighty years, and at 
ninety-five could walk several miles with comparative ease. He 
lacked only six months of being a century old at the time of his 
death. 

The change in the Miles Road brought it sixteen rods farther 
south at the corner, and here was eventually built up a little ham- 
let, where besides dwellings and the usual out-buildings, was a 
tavern with a Masonic hall, a store, a small hat manufactury, a 
shoe-shop, and a blacksmith's shop. The inn, kept by the usually 
suave Col. David Copp, was quite a resort for the "neckers" and 
"roaders" from Tuftonborough and residents of the Bridge village 
below. 

At that period nearly every farming household had a flock of 
geese. They were the special care of the wife and her principal 
source of revenue. The broad margin of the main road afiforded 
good opportunities for foraging, but there was a lack of water. 
The geese were accustomed to visit the Meserve Brook, which 
crossed the highway about a half-mile to the west, to perform their 
ablutions, and when returning to their feeding-ground, would fre- 
quently make a halt near the Colonel's premises. Their noisy 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



191 



gabble was quite annoying to him, and one sultry day, when a 
considerable number had passed through the broad open way into 
the cool cellar, he closed the doors and imprisoned them, refusing 
to release them to the owners without a ransom fee. The offended 
dames vented their indignation by applying to the location an ap- 
pellation which they regarded as reproachful, but which custom 
adopted and kept in use for many decades. This is the traditionary 
story of the origin of the name, Goose Corner. The term was, 
however, compHmentary rather than otherwise, as it indicated the 
existence in the neighborhood of a small but profitable industry. 
The goose at that time was the only fowl that was bred with 
profit. The domestic hen poorly sheltered and meagerly fed, in 
the cold season produced little. In the summer some eggs and a 
few chickens were furnished for the farmers' table, but little effort 
was made to obtain them for marketing. The turkey, which in 
after times was very highly prized as a farm product, could not 
then be profitably reared on account of its rambling propensities, 
which rendered it an easy prey to furred marauders. 

The goose, however, securing a large portion of its food by its 
own industry, netted as much comparative profit as any domestic 
animal. With the proceeds of the fllock the wife obtained for her- 
self and daughters many of the extras for their wardrobe, and 
probably among the descendants of the old families can still be 
found cherished heirlooms, a pillow of down or a string of gold 
beads. Sometimes when the inexorable rate-gatherer made his 
annual call, the husband shared in the distribution. While 
throughout Christendom the goose remains the most highly prized 
festal bird and an indispensable requisite of the Christmas dinner, 
it merits no sneering allusion. 

The Copp Tavern is now the property of William B. Randall, 
who has made important changes in its structure. It is now oc- 
cupied as a summer boarding-house, and the locality is known as 
Kendall's Corner. The stir of former years may never come to 
this neighborhood, but it affords for residents of greater activities 



192 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



pleasant and healthful retreats in the summer season. The love 
of literature which characterized former generations still con- 
tinues, and some of the present dwellers can wield a facile pen. 
The erection of Starlight Hall evinced the tastes of the inhabi- 
tants. 

About this time a few roads necessary for the convenience of 
the inhabitants and the development of the town were opened. 

Here follows a description of them : — 

"Oct. 9, 1779. This day spotted a road two rods wide from the 
Mills thro' lots seventeen and eighteen, running nearly a straight 
course to the road called the College Road leading to the northerly 
part of Said Town, Said Road being laid out agreeably to a vote 
of the town. 

Given under our hands the day and year above written. 

Henry Rust -\ 

Ebenezer Meder > Selectmen" 

Matthew S. Parker ) 

The road began at the northerly end of the sawmill, and ran 
between Joseph P. Heath's store and William B. Hodge's 
dwelling-house, and so on south of the town meeting-house lot 
along the shore of Lake Wentworth past V. B. Willey's mill to the 
residence of Harry Smith. 

"Nov. 25, 1779. This day laid out a road three rods wide from 
the Main Road leading through said town between land owned 
by James Lucas 3rd and the land owned by the mill proprietors 
taking two rods out of the last mentioned land and one out of 
Lucas' until it reaches the heath lying and being in the Mill prop- 
erty then crossing said heath nearly in a straight line and con- 
tinuing to the Mills Said road laid out in pursuance of a vote of 
the town. 

Ebenezer Meder ) 

^ ^ , > selectmen 
Matthew S. Parker > 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



193 



This road ran until it reached the Brick Schoolhouse Hill, over 
which it passed near the Thompson house, and beyond where the 
road-bed is still well defined to Smith's River at the foot of the 
sawmill. Subsequentl}' the road was changed somewhat, passing 
above the dam and crossing the river where now the Wolfe- 
borough railroad crosses, and running south of Heath's store. 

Later the road was again altered, leaving its former course near 
the foot of the Brick Schoolhouse Hill, taking its present course 
south of the mill-pond. The bridging of the morass was quite an 
undertaking on account of the impoverished condition of the in- 
habitants and the pressing demands of the war, but it was at last 
accomplished, being in part done by voluntary labor instead of in- 
creased taxation, the parties working being reimbursed the follow- 
ing year by abatements of taxes. The corduroy was constructed 
of very heavy timber. Nearly a century elapsed before it was all 
unearthed. Notwithstanding the inhabitants of Wolfeborough 
had constructed highways within the limits of the town for their 
accommodation, there had not as yet been any road opened south 
of it. Some time during this year (1780) the legislature of New 
Hampshire had authorized Matthew S. Parker and an associate 
to appoint in unincorporated places selectmen to assess taxes. 
The same year the legislature, on petition of Jonathan Moulton, 
proprietor of Moultonborough, passed an act authorizing the ap- 
pointed selectmen of New Durham Gore (now Alton) to lay out 
and open a road from Merry Meeting Bay to Wolfeborough, and 
also one from the same place to Gilmanton, and assess the in- 
habitants of the Gore for the cost of constructing the same. The 
selectmen neglected to act in the matter, and July 4, 1781, the 
legislature passed an act appointing Matthew S. Parker, Esq., of 
Wolfeborough, Col. Bradbury Richardson, of Moultonborough, 
and Daniel Bedee, Esq., of Sandwich, a committee lay out and 
make passable such roads, and the said committee, in case it be- 
came necessary, were authorized to levy and collect taxes of the 
inhabitants of the Gore for the construction of the same. 



194 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



It is quite probable the building- of these roads was not much 
longer delayed, and that Wolfeborough had thereafter a rough 
public highway to Alton Bay, from thence to Rochester by the 
road built in 1722, and to Gilmanton by the new one opened. Be- 
yond that town roads extended to Concord. A person who is 
familiar with "the lay of the land" from Wolfeborough to Gilman- 
ton will not be surprised at the reluctance of the inhabitants of 
the Gore to opening a road more than fifteen miles in length over 
such a surface. The public demand for such a highway, however, 
rendered the sacrifice imperative. 

The history of these old-time roads is for many reasons most 
interesting. Ossipee road, because of its importance as a thor- 
oughfare, not only to Wolfeborough, but to the county and even 
beyond, is, however, entitled to considerable attention. 

The road leading from Ossipee Corner to Wolfeborough Center 
was laid out Nov. 9, 1866, by the joint action of the selectmen 
of the town of Wolfeborough and Ossipee on the petition of the 
following persons ; viz., John L. Peavey, John M. Brackett, Moses 
Varney, George W. Sawyer, Augustus J. Varney, Isaiah Wiggin, 
Thomas Rust, Alvah Bickford, John K. Steele, Charles F. Parker, 
John T. Furber, George Y. Furbur, Joseph L.. Nudd, James J. 
Randall, Eleazer D. Barker, Alpheus Swett, Alvah S. Libbey, 
John R. Swett, George Keniston, Levi T. Haley, J. W. Goodwin, 
Charles H. Jenness, Richard R. Davis, Charles E. Stackpole, 
Charles H. Hersey, Lorenzo Home, Thomas Britton, John L. 
Wiggin, Alex. H. Durgin, George F. Home, E. W. Ricker, 
George F. Jenness, Sylvester F. Twombly, Charles P. Rendall, 
William B. Rendall, Henry Lucas, James Bresnehan, George H. 
Wiggin, Joseph Varney, Daniel Home, John B. Waldron, of 
Wolfeborough, Joseph Q. Roles, Sanborn B. Carter, Isaac Thurs- 
ton, John C. Bickford, Loammi Hardy, George W. Tibbetts, 
Rufus F. Stillings, William H. Dame, Luther Young, John Clark, 
of Ossipee. 

The bearings and distances were as follows : — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



195 



Commencing at the intersection of the two roads leading from 
Ossipee Corner to Water Village near the dwelling of Loammi Hardy 
and running over the Pitman road (so called) fifty-seven rods, thence 
south nine degrees west one rod from the center of the road to land of 
Elisha P. Allen, thence same course five rods over land of said Allen to 
land of Joshua Brooks, thence same course twenty rods over land of said 
Brooks to a stake, thence south sixteen degrees west forty rods over land 
of said Brooks to a stake, thence south twenty-five degrees west thirty-six 
rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Brooks to a maple 
tree, thence south thirty-nine degrees west four rods over land of said 
Brooks to land of the heirs of Asa Pitman, thence south thirty-seven 
and one-half degrees west twenty-eight rods over land of said heirs to a 
stake, thence south forty-two degrees west forty rods over land of said 
heirs to a stake, thence south forty-six degrees west thirty rods over 
land of said heirs to land of Luther Young, thence same course four 
rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Young to a stake, 
thence south fifty degrees west twenty-two* rods twenty links over land 
of said Young to land of said heirs of Asa Pitman, thence same course 
fifty-four rods over land of said heirs to a stake, thence south sixty- 
four degrees west twenty-six rods over land of said heirs to a stake, 
thence south sixty-six degrees west forty-two rods twelve and one-half 
links over land of said heirs to land of Loammi Hardy, thence same 
course twenty-two rods over land of said Hardy to Wolfeborough town 
line and land of John Tebbetts, Jr., thence south fifty degrees west 
twelve rods over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south thirty- 
six and one-half degrees west eight rods twelve and one-half links over 
land of said Tebbetts to a birch tree, thence south thirty nine degrees 
west eight rods over land of said Tebbetts to a birch tree, thence south 
fifty-four and one-half degrees west twelve rods over land of said Teb- 
betts to a stake, thence south forty-one degrees west thirteen rods twelve 
and one-half links over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south 
fifty-three and one-half degrees west seventeen rods ten links over land 
of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south thirty-six and one-half degrees 
west eleven rods over land of said Tebbetts to land of Mrs. Clarissa 
Merrill, thence south forty degrees west nine rods over land of said Mrs. 
Merrill to land of Thomas Nute and A. J. Drew, thence same course 
seven rods over land of said Nute and Drew to a stake, thence south 
twenty-nine and one-half degrees west fifteen rods eight links to land 
of W. P. Home, thence south twenty-one degrees west twelve rods over 
land of said W. P. Home to a stake, thence south sixteen and one-half 
degrees west eight rods twelve and one-half links over land of W. P. 
Home to a stake, thence south forty-eight and one-half degrees west 
fifteen rods twelve and one-half links over land of said W. P. Home 
to land of said Nute and Drew, thence south thirty-four degrees west 



196 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



nine rods over land of said Nute and Drew to land of Mrs. Sarah Nute, 
thence south thirty-seven degrees west seventeen rods twelve and one- 
half links over land of said Nute to a white birch tree, thence south 
twenty-six and one-half degrees west ten rods twelve and one-half links 
over land of said Nute to a stake, thence south forty and one-half de- 
grees west ten rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Mrs. 
Nute to a stake, thence south fifty-one degrees west fourteen rods twelve 
and one-half links over land of said Nute to a stake, thence south eighty- 
three degrees west nineteen rods over land of said Nute to a stake, 
thence north eighty-six degrees west seven rods nine links over land of 
said Nute to land of said W. P. Home, thence same course forty-one 
rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Home to the south 
end of a stone wall in the field, thence north eighty-four degrees west 
thirty rods over land of said Home to the road leading by the dwelling 
house of said Home, thence same course west three rods over said road 
to land of John E. Abbott, thence south seventy-four degrees west 
twenty rods over land of said Abbott to a stake, thence south eighty- 
five and one-half degrees west twenty-four rods over land of said Abbott 
to a maple tree, thence north seventy-seven degrees west seven rods 
over land of said Abbott to the road leading from Wolfeborough by 
Water Village to Tuftonborough, thence same course four rods twelve 
and one-half links across said road to land of Andrew B. Tebbetts, 
thence south eighty-four and one-half degrees west eighty-one rods over 
land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south sixty-five and one-half 
degrees west seventeen rods over land of said Tebbetts to land of Joseph 
R. Haines, thence same course twenty rods over land of said Haines to 
land of James Young, thence same course ten rods seventeen links over 
land of said Young to a stake, thence south sixty-three and three-fourths 
degrees west forty-four rods over land of said Young to a stake, thence 
south fifty-one and one-half degrees west twenty-seven rods twelve and 
one-half links over land of said Young to land of James Bickford, 
thence south thirty-one degrees west twenty-six rods twelve and one-half 
links over land of said Bickford to a stake, thence south thirteen de- 
grees west fourteen rods over land of said Bickford, to land of William 
T. Dorr, thence same course forty-seven rods over land of said Dorr to 
a stake, thence south seventeen and one-half degrees west forty-two rods 
over land of said Dorr to a stake, thence south one and one-half degrees 
east forty-five rods over land of said Dorr to land of John K. Pike and 
Albert Bennett, thence south fifteen degrees east thirty-six rods nine 
links over land of said Pike and Bennett tol a stake, thence south nine 
degrees east nineteen rods over land of said Pike and Bennett to a stake, 
thence south fifteen and one-half degrees east twenty rods twelve and 
one-half links over land of said Pike and Bennett to land of Isaac Wil- 
ley, thence same course nineteen rods seven links over land of said Wil- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 197 

ley to a stake, thence south seven degrees east twenty-eight rods ten 
links over land of said Willey to land of Levi Philbrick, thence south 
seven degrees west twelve rods sixteen links over land of said Philbrick 
to land of Joseph R. Haines, thence same course ten rods twenty links 
over land of said Haines to a stake, thence south four" degrees east six 
rods six links over land of said Haines ta a stake, thence same course 
three rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Haines to a birch 
tree, thence south nine degrees west three rods seventeen links over land 
of said Haines to a small spruce tree, thence south forty-two degrees 
west nine rods six links over land of said Haines to a hemlock tree, 
thence south thirty-four degrees west eight rods four links over land of 
said Haines to a stake, thence south sixteen and one-half degrees east 
nine rods twenty links over land of said Haines to a hemlock stump, 
thence south seven degrees east seven rods twelve and one-half links to 
a spruce tree, thence south forty-six degrees east six rods four links over 
land of said Haines to land of said Albert Bennett, thence same course 
one rod and nine links over land of said Bennett to a maple tree, thence 
south thirty degrees east seven rods twenty links over land of said Ben- 
nett to a cherry tree, thence south ten degrees east eleven rods twelve 
and one-half links over land of said Bennett to a maple tree, thence 
south one degree east eight rods over land of said Bennett to a stake, 
thence south seventeen and three-fourths degrees west sixty rods over 
land of said Bennett to the mill road, thence south nine degrees west 
one rod twelve and one-half links across the mill road to land of Isaac 
Willey, thence same course seventy-six rods over land of said Willey to 
land of John J. Chamberlain, thence same course seventeen rods over 
land of said Chamberlain to the road leading by the town house in said 
Wolfeborough and at a point in the road thirteen rods northeasterly of 
the dwelling-house of Sally Nute, thencef over the road from said Sally 
Nute's dwelling-house leading from Dimon's Comer in Wolfeborough to 
Wolfeborough Bridge in said Wolfeborough five hundred and fifty-one 
and one-half rods to a hub in said road opposite the town house in said 
Wolfeborough. 

The line above described is to be the middle of the highway, and 
the highway is to be four rods wide with the exception of fifty- 
seven rods on the Pitman road in said Ossipee above referred to 
and five hundred sixty-four and one-half rods on the road leading 
from Dimon's Corner in Wolfeborough to Wolfeborough Bridge 
in said Wolfeborough as above described, and which two said 
pieces of road are to be as they now are. 



198 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Following is the award of land damages : — 

"We, the selectmen of Ossipee and Wolfeborough, acting joint- 
ly do award to the owners of land taken for said highway on said 
route the following sums to be paid by said towns respectively : 

Elisha Allen of Ossipee $50.00 

Joshua Brooks of Ossipee 427.12 

Luther Young of Ossipee 27.00 

Ann Pitman of Ossipee 385.75 

Loammi Hardy of Ossipee 22.00 

John Tebbetts of Wolfeborough 69.50 

Clarissa Merrill of Wolfeborough 21.50 

Thomas Nute and Andrew Drew of Wolfeborough 35-22 

Sarah M. Nute of Wolfeborough 89.36 

Woodbury P. Home and A. A. Home of Wolfeborough. 252.12 

John E. Abbott of Wolfeborough 147.00 

Andrew B. and John Tebbetts of Wolfeborough. 229.50 

Joseph R. Haines of Wolfeborough 116.37 

James and Charles W. Young of Wolfeborough 184.96 

James Bickford of Wolfeborough 70.00 

William T. and Nancy H. Dorr of Wolfeborough 368.50 

John K. Pike and Albert Bennett of Wolfeborough. . . . 75.00 

Isaac Willey of Wolfeborough 222.46 

Levi Philbrick of Wolfeborough 28.45 

Albert Bennett of Wolfeborough 198.45 

John J. Chamberlain of Wolfeborough 40.37 

Land damages $2,030.26 

The distance of road laid out in Ossipee, including the Pitman 
road fifty-seven rods, is four hundred and thirty-two rods. The 
distance in Wolfeborough from the town line to Water Village 
road is three hundred and seventy-four rods, and from that point 
to the intersection of the road leading from Wolfeborough to 
North Wolfeborough seven hundred and sixty-four rods. The 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



199 



distance from the site of the former town meeting-house in Wolfe- 
borough to the present meeting-house at Ossipee Corner is almost 
precisely seven miles, while the newly constructed road connecting 
the two towns wants only eighty-seven rods of being five miles. 

The principal road laid out since 1800 are as follows : — 

Mill road, 3 rods, 1863. Endicott Street, 25 feet, 1865, and in 
1867 widened to 30 feet. Road near I. W. Cotton's, 2 rods ,1866. 
Road from North Wolfeborough burying-ground to Avery's, 3 
rods, 1869. Branch Dimon's Corner road, 4 rods, 1871. Road 
from Mill Street to old Bassett place, 1876. Glendon Street, 2 1-2 
rods, 1877. Road from Stockbridge Corner to Water Village and 
Tuftonborough, 3 rods, 1841. Neck road, 2 rods, 1836. Road 
connecting Main and Pine Hill roads, over portions of Mill and 
Bay Streets, 2 1-2 rods, i860. Shepherd road widened to two rods 
in 1836. Road from watering-trough in Wolfeborough Falls 
widened to three rods in 1836. Road from Libbey's to Stock- 
bridge Corner straightened and widened to three rods in 1831. 
Road from John Home's to John Home, Jr.'s, 183 1. Cross road 
between South Wolfeborough and Pleasant Valley roads, 3 rods, 
183 1. Road known as Whitton road, connecting the Farm and 
Pequaket roads, 2 rods, 183 1. Farm road laid out in 1806. 
Sawyer road, 1825. David Chamberlain road, 1825. Green Street, 
37 1-2 feet, 1873. Road from Bay Street to Davis house, 2 rods, 
1876. Mirror Lake road, 3 rods, 1873. Lake Street, 2 rods, 1853. 
Sewall Street, 2 1-2 rods, 1898. Oak Street, 2 rods, 1881. Rail- 
road Avenue, 30 feet, 1887. Libbey Street, 23-25 feet, 1893. 
Union Street, 30-37 feet, 1891. Pine Street, 2 1-2 rods, 1888. 
School Street, 2 rods, 1884. Pleasant Street, 2 1-2 rods, 1881. 
Factory Street, 3 rods, 1883. Willow Street, 3 rods, 1863. River 
Street, — rods. Forest Street, Neck road, 2 rods, 1820. Silver 
Street, 1844. Beatrice Street, 40 feet, 1891. Mill Street, 2 1-2 
rods, i860. Sewall Street extension now building. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

MiDDLETON — Nicholas Austin becomes bumptious — Petition 
FOR New Town — Remonstrance — Second Petition — 
Second Remonstrance — Parker's Bill — Road to Mid- 
dleton — Interesting Correspondence on the Matter — 
Petition from Citizens of Osscpee — Bristol — Wolfe- 
borough Addition — Action of Selectmen on Petition 
— Alton and Tuftonborough Annexations. 

THE town of Middleton consisted of two parts, the southern and 
more important called the "First Division," and the northern, 
which adjoined Wolfeborough, the "Second Division." Separat- 
ing these, was a range of high hills, impassable by ordinary means, 
so that the inhabitants of the latter division were compelled to 
travel through other towns to reach the more important part of 
their own. This inconvenience and the intimate neighborhood 
relations existing between the inhabitants of eastern Wolfe- 
borough and the "Second Division" of Middleton led to the en- 
deavor to unite the two sections in one town. 

The leader of the movement was Nicholas Austin, whose resi- 
dence, since known as the Hodge house, was at the terminus of 
the early road that led to the Governor Wentworth Farm. Austin 
was a capable man, but had a somewhat unsavory reputation on 
account of clandestinely procuring workmen to assist in building 
barracks for General Gage's soldiers in 1775 : for this the patriots 
constrained him to make the amende honorable. He was very 
ambitious, and evidently desired to secure the organization of a 
municipality over which he should have a controlling influence. 

Here follows the petition for the new town : — 

"To the Honorable the Council and House of Representatives 

sitting at Exeter — 
200 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 20I 

The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Towns of 
Wolf borough and Middleton Humbly Shews — 

That, your petitioners from Wolf borough are put to great In- 
conveniencies in transacting Town Business by reason of a very 
large pond which lays between them and the place of holding their 
Meetings — 

That, your petitioners from Middleton (Inhabitants of the Sec- 
ond Division) are subjected to as great Inconveniences by reason 
of the great Distance they live from the place of holding their 
Meetings and the Badness of the Roads which for a great part of 
the Year are almost impassable — 

Tftat, the Eastermost part of said Wolf borough and the Sec- 
ond Division of said Middleton are well calculated for a Town- 
ship — Your petitioners therefore pray that the said two Tracts of 
Land may be annexed and erected into a Distinct and seperate 
Town by such Metes & Bounds as your Honors shall order — and 
as in Duty bound your petitioners will pray &c 

Nicholas austin Peter Stellings John Palmer 

Benjamin Clay moses Perkins Wolf borough 

Josiah Robinson wellaim Wile Robert Calder 

Stephen Lyford Ezekiel Sanborn William Cotton 

Jonathan Clay Josiah Wiggin Joseph Leavitt 

Bartholomew Richards Samuel Tibbetts James Sheafe 

Jedidiah Drew Joseph Wille Jonathan Lang 

David Durgin Isaac Drew John Costelloe" 

Daniel Croxford John Fornel 

Ebzer Bennett Simon Dearborn 

The same month the following remonstrating petition was pre- 
sented to the legislature : — 

"The petition of the Inhabitants of the south west part of the 
Town of Wolf borough — 

Humbly Sheweth — 
That your petitioners were unexpectedly Notified of a petition 



202 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

being preferred to this Honorable Court in the Course of their 
Last Session at Concord, by a small number of the Inhabitants of 
said Wolfboro' living on the Northeasterly side of said Town (in 
Conjunction with the Inhabitants of the second Division of 
Middletown containing about thirty Families) for the purpose of 
Dividing said Towns, in Order to Erect a New Township — the 
prayer whereof your petitioners humbly conceive (as well as the 
Inhabitants of the first division of said Middletown) to be ex- 
ceeding unreasonable for the Reasons following — (viz) First, Be- 
cause the whole Number of Families now living in said Wolf- 
boro', does not Exceed Forty live, & those in Middletown about 
twice that Number, so that to divide two such small Number of 
Inhabitants to make three Towns would be very injurious & ex- 
pensive to said Inhabitants as well as, the Community at large, 
as they cannot be Benefited at present by being annexed to any 
other Town — 

That the whole Town of Wolfborough together, are poorly able 
to support proper Town Government & Order, & by Reason of 
their low Circumstances & the difficulty of the late Times have 
never been able to settle a Minister of the Gospel, or even to hire 
Necessary schooling for their Children, and now to cut off a quar- 
ter or one-third of said Inhabitants would entirely disenable & 
even Obliterate all prospect of enjoying such a Blessing for a 
long time to Come, as there are not any near settlements in the 
Towns adjoining to be united to us, and but little prospects of 
there being any at present as the Lands are held by the Pro- 
prietors in large Bodies & not to be obtain'd without a large price 
being given therefor — 

Secondly— Th'dt though the Inhabitants may not exceed the 
Number above mentioned, who have petitioned for the separation. 
Yet that part of the Land they would be glad to have set of? is 
above one half in Value as to the quality, of the whole Town, 
the Middle part being exceeding poor and very little thereof suit- 
able for settlements — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



203 



Thirdly — That your petitioners mostly live on one direct Road 
thro' the southwest part of said Town adjoining to Winnepiseokee 
Lake & the land on said Road for one Miles Distance from said 
Lake being- wholly taken up (which contains in a manner all the 
land upon that Quarter suitable for settlements) they cannot be 
Benefited by any more or at least but very few settlers there, and 
few Inhabitants living in the Towns adjoining under the Distance 
of Eight or Ten Miles & those very Scattering that the prospects 
of any Benefit from a Connection with them at Present is entirely 
Chimerical — 

Lastly — That however practicable such a Division may be in 
some future Day when those Towns become Inhabited, that a 
Division would be exceeding injurious for the Reasons already 
Suggested which contain plain matters of fact, and indeed would 
totally compleat for a long space of Time the Ruin of two Towns 
to build up one, & which if effected would not accommodate so 
many persons as it would injure, & only serve to gratify the Am- 
bition of two or three Designing persons who would be glad 
perhaps (,in this Case) to advance themselves tho' at the same 
time their Neighbors should be injured, which would verily be 
the case, if their Prayer should be granted — As to their great Ob- 
jection they make of having so far to travel to the Annual Meeting 
of said Town they have never once ask'd or desired, to have the 
Meeting held over upon that quarter, which if they had, would 
have been readily granted, tho' then but very few of them would 
be Benifited thereby, as they live so Scattering — 

Therejore your Petitioners humbly conceive, that the prayer 
of their Petition appears at present to be so unreasonable that 
your Honours will not so greatly injure the Majority of two Towns 
of your peaceable Subjects only to gratify the Ambition of a few 
Individuals by granting the prayer thereof but will of course dis- 
miss the same, & in so doing, as in Duty Bound your Petitioners 
will ever pray &c &c. 

Wolf borough June 1785 — 



204 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



Benjamen Blake 
Jeremiah Gould 
John Home 
Benj : Evens 
Lemuel Clififord 
Henry Rust 
Matthew S. Parker 
Ebenezer Home 
Andrew Lucas 
James Lucas Jr 
James Connor 



John Fullerton 
Ebenezer Meder 
Jonathan Harsey 
John Lucas 
Henry Rust Jun 
Richard Rust 
Jacob Smith 
James Fullerton 
Enoch Thomas 
Samuel Tibbets 
Jonathan Chase 



John Lary 
Joseph Lary 
Thomas piper 
John Piper 
Ithiel Clifford 
Andrew Wiggin 
James Wiggin 
Benjamin Wiggin 
Stephen Home 
Isaiah Home 
Ebenezer Home Jr 



In the House of Representatives, June lo, 1785, a committee, 
consisting of Ebenezer Smith, of Meredith, Daniel Beede, of Sand- 
wich, and Moses Baker, of Campton, was appointed to investigate 
and report at the next session. They reported as follows : — 

"State of New Hampshire 
To the Honorable the House of Representatives 

We the Subscribers Pursuant to our appointment having Repaired to 
Wolf borough & midleton & haveing fully Vewed Said towns find the 
Situation of Wolfsborough to be such as will not admit of a division 
without great inconveniances & hurt to said town. We have also 
Viewed the town of midleton & find the Situation thereof Such that 
there is no Passing from one end thereof unto the other with out 
goingoutof the Limits thereof to get round a mountain Which makes 
it exceeamg dificult for the Inhabatance to meet together on any 
ocasion And the Inhabatance of Wolfsborough have fixed upon a 
Place to Sit their meeting house & hold their Public town Meetings 
as near the center of said Wolfsborough with two miles of the North- 
east end of Midleton if annexed thereto which Place is on the West- 
erly Side of Lot No. 4, and about thirty rods Northerly of Smiths 
Pond Which the Inhabatance of Wolf borough with the Agents of the 
Petisioners of the Northeasterly end of midleton have agreed to have 
established by the act of Incorporation if it Should be the Courts 
Pleasure to Pass an act to Incorporate any Part of midleton with 
Wolfsborough We therefore recommend it Conveniant for four ranges 
of Lots or more which contain about one mile each of the Northeast 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 205 

end of midletown to be annexed to Wolfsborough if Prayed for by 
Such Part of Midletown — 

Wolf borough October 7th 1785 

Ebenezer Smith -> 

Daniel Beede I Committee." 

Moses Baker ) 

Subsequently Austin presented a second petition : — 

"State of 

New Hampshire 

To the honorable Senate and house of Repre- 
sentatives in General Court convened at Con- 
cord third Wednesday of October 1785 — 

Humbly shew the Inhabitants of the Second Division of Middle- 
town in the County of Strafiford and State aforesaid, that they are 
situated at great distance from the place of holding" the public 
Meetings in said Town, prevented from going to the other part 
of the 1 own where most of the Inhabitants live, without travelling 
into another Town first, through Roads almost impassable for 
great part of the Year. Your Petitioners being so circumstanced 
have been and must be deprived of the benifit of all Town Privi- 
ledges in Middleton while they belong thereto — that as your Pe- 
titioners can more conveniently attend the public meetings in 
Wolfborough should the Meeting House there be built at the 
place agreed on — they pray that they may be annexed from 
Middleton, and annexed to Wolfborough or otherwise relieved 
from their present grievance — And your Petitioners as in duty 
bound shall ever pray &c. ' 

Nicholas Austin for Petitioners" 

This petition was followed February, 1786, by a remonstrance 
addressed to the General Court : — 

Humbly Shew, the Inhabitants of the Town of Wolf borough 
in the County of Strafford & State aforesaid, That they were very 



2o6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

unexpectedly surprized by receiving a few Days since, a Copy of 
a Petition signed by Nicholas Austin in behalf of the Settlers of 
the Second Division of Middletown with the order of Court there- 
on, praying that the said second Division of Middletown might 
be annexed to Wolf borough 

Your Petitioners are exceeding sorry that thro' the restless 
Machinations of designing Persons they should be drawn into the 
disagreeable necessity of taking up your Honours time upon a 
Subject they thought already fix'd and Determined — Your 
Honors will perceive by the Report of your Committee ye last 
Sessions at Concord, That, the Town of Wolf boro' was well situ- 
ated & could not be divided without great injury, and we dare say 
had this plan been within the limits of their Business, they would 
have reported, that, such an addition as prayed for by Friend 
Austin would be as injurious to more than three fourths of the 
Inhabitants as a Division of the Town — Yet notwithstanding the 
inconvenience of a Connection at all, the Agents in behalf of 
Wolfborough consented that two Miles of Middletown next to 
Wolf boro' should be annexed thereto as it was so disavantageous 
for them to tend public Business in their own Town, conceiving 
that the lower part of said second Division, would in that Case 
poll off to Wakefield, as Many of the Settlers living on said Tract 
are intermixt as it were with those of that Town, & as was pro- 
posed by sundry of them — Such a connection as that was con- 
sented to by the Agents of both parties in the presence of the 
Committee as they reported, and as your Petitioners thought 
would have been a Conclusion of the matter so far as it concerned 
them, & in consequence thereof they agreed upon a place for 
building a meeting House, not thinking that after said Austin 
(as Agent) had Consented thereto in presence of the Committee, 
would have been so dishonourable as to have attempted any thing 
further, & Mr Cabbott being then present was so far satisfied 
with the agreement made by the Agents as to propose the place 
for setting a Meeting House himself & accordingly gave his word 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 207 

in writing for a lot of Land for the purpose, which was agreed 
by all parties should be established by an Act of Court as re- 
ported by Ye Committee — 

Now if in Case any more than the two Miles should be annexed 
to Wolfborough, it would be the means of sowing such seeds of 
Discord & Dissention in the Town as the age of man would never 
see ended — Therefore your Petitioners humbly beg that the 
prayer of said Petition may not be granted — But that if the pro- 
posed Connection will not satisfy their restles Agent, they may 
be continued together until the said Division becomes sufficiently 
Inhabited for a Town or Parish by themselves which will no doubt 
be very soon when perhaps some plan may be tho't of for the 
first Division of said Middletown, which if at present separated 
will approach near to annihilation, or at least to be in a similar 
Situation of that of Ishmael of old, having every mans hand 
against them, as to any connection — such being the circumstances 
we humble pray that their said petition may be demiss'd, & that we 
may be left to enjoy the fruits of our Labour under our Vines & 
fig Trees unless the Agreement already made will satisfy our rest- 
less adversary, whose Conduct has already too clearly appeared 
to be absorpt in selfish principles — But if in your Wisdom you 
should think proper to grant the prayer of their petition, we 
humbly pray that, the place already agreed on for Building the 
meeting House may first be established by an Act of Court, other- 
wise the Dissention will rise to a great height, which we earnestly 
wish may be avoided by the Assistance of your Honourable Body 
— And your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray &c — 

Wolf borough January 26th 1786 

Henry Rust Thomas Piper James Connor 

Benjamin Blake John Lary Jacob Smith 

David Piper thomas Piper Jr Joseph Lary 

Lemuel Clififord David Blake John Shores 

Andrew Lucas Jonathan Harsey Matthew S. Parker 



2o8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Enoch thomas 
John fullerton 
Samuel Tebbetts 
James fullerton 
Ithal Clefard 
andrew Wiggin 
Paul Wiggin 
James Wiggin 



William Fullerton 
John Lucas 
Henry Rust Jr 
Jeremiah Gould 
Levi Tibbets 
Ebenezer Tibbets 
John Piper 
James Lucas Jr 



Ebenezer Home 
Ebenezer Meder 
John Home 
Ebenezer Home Jr 
Benjamin Wiggin 
Jonathan Chase" 



This remonstrance probably ended the controversy. It is not 
known that further attempt was made to annex the "Second 
Division" of Middleton to Wolfeborough, but eight years after, in 
1794, this territory was incorporated as a separate town named 
Brookfield. 

Here follows a copy of Parker's bill for his services and the en- 
tertainment of the legislative committee : — 

"The Town Wolfborough to Matthew S. Parker Dr 

To Writing 2 Petitions respecting the not Dividing the 

Town @ 6s £0 — 12 — o 

To 2 Days attending the General Court @ 6s o — 12 — o 

To 2 Days waiting on the Committee in Wolfboro' & to 

Middletown @ 4s o — 8 — o 

To Committee's Expenses at my House o — 12 — o 

Lawfull Money £2 — 4 — o 
Writing Warrants &c o — 4 — o 

i2— 8— o 
Wolfboro' March 27: 1786 

Errors Excepted 

Matthew S. Parker" 



Notwithstanding the road to Merry Meeting Bay had been 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 200 

Opened, it was such a hilly, circuitous way to reach Rochester and 
the towns south of it that the inhabitants of Wolfeborough and 
the region north and west became very desirous for a more direct 
route to the lower towns. Accordingly, in 1785, they petitioned 
the court to lay out a road through parts of New Durham and 
Middleton. This petition was granted so far as to appoint a com- 
mittee to examine the proposed route. This proved to be much 
more feasible for a road than was anticipated ; for, although the 
region was somewhat mountainous, the valleys afforded passes 
quite convenient for a highway. A road was laid out. Here is a 
copy of a letter from the selectmen of Wolfeborough to those of 
Middleton and New Durham in relation to the matter: — 

"Wolfboro', August 8th 1786 
Gentlemen 

In pursuance to a Petition being preferred to the Quarter Ses- 
sions of this County last year by the Inhabitants of this Town, for 
a Road to be laid out from Wolfboro' thro' part of the Second 
Division of New Durham & the first Division of Middletown, a 
committee was appointed for that purpose, who have laid out said 
Road & made return thereof accordingly as a County Road, 
which report has been accepted by the Court as such & the ex- 
pense of doing the same so far allow'd by the County — It now 
remains that the Towns thro' which said Road is laid out im- 
mediately make the same a good Waggon Road thro' their re- 
spective Districts — The Difficulty we have so long laboured under 
for want of a Road for transportation, has, upon our finding that 
there can be a Road made where this is laid out so easily & with 
so little expense for that purpose & which will be of such great 
Benefit not only to ourselves but many other Towns above us. 
Resolutely determined us to have the same Compleated as soon 
as may be — This is therefore to Desire that you will prepare the 
Necessary Steps for compleating the same thro' your Town in 
such a way & manner as you shall think most Expedient, & any 



210 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

unnecessary Delay & Neglect of the same will be attended with 
great injury to this & the Neighboring Towns, & will most loudly 
be complained of to those who will oblige the same to be done, 
however we please ourselves with the Idea of your readily per- 
forming the same as it greatly enhances the Value of that part of 
your Town, & will be of such an extensive Benefit to the public 

Your Answer to the above will be kindly accepted by Gentle- 
men 

Your most Humble Servants 

Matthew S. Parker ^ 

Tames Lucas Jr > Selectmen" 

Ebenezer Meder 3 

Here follows a reply to the foregoing from the selectmen of 
New Durham : — 

"New Durham September 14th 1786 
Gentlemen 

We Received your Letter some days since and observe the con- 
tents respecting the new Road and would inform you that we have 
a Surveyor (Mr. Andrew Bickford) appointed upon that part of 
the Road which goes through the second Division of New Dur- 
ham likewise the Town has Voted a Sum of Money to be laid 
out on said Road more than the Labour of those people living on 
or near it and we expect the Surveyor will go to work Immediate- 
ly on the same. 

From Gentlemen your very Humble Servants 

Peter Drowne ) Selectmen of 
Ebenezer Durgin 5 New Durham. 

P. S. We would further inform you that we have understood 
the Sum Voted will not be sufficient to do the necessary Labour 
wanted on said Road for which reason we have called a Town 
Meeting to get an additional Sum Voted. Yours as above. 

To the Gentlemen Select Men of Wolfborough" 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 211 

Probably in the autumn of 1786 or during the year of 1787 a 
wagon road was opened through the town of New Durham, but 
it is evident that none was completed through Middleton as late 
as the spring of 1788. This is shown by the following letter from 
the selectmen of Wolfeborough : — 

Wolfeboro', April 3rd, 1788. 
Gentlemen 

Agreeable to the Desire of the Town of Wolfborough we have 
to request that you would endeavor to have the suitable provision 
made before your Annual Town Meeting is dissolved for the Com- 
pleating of the Road laid out thro' your Town from Wolfeborough 
by the County — We have waited patiently, as the Times are 
Difficult, expecting you would accomplish the same, for the sake 
of advancing the Interests of your own Town Notwithstanding 
we, as well as sundry of the Towns above labour under so great 
Difficulty in Travelling & Transporting to Markett — Now as 
every indulgence has been given which can Reasonably be ex- 
pected we are now Determined to make use of every Measure the 
Law will allow of to get the Road accomplished — And if we should 
be drove to take that Method you must remember that the ex- 
tensive usefulness of that Road when finished will be of great 
weight towards helping to compleat the same — However we 
would wish that thro' kindness to your Neighbors & the view 
of advancing the Interests of your own Town, you will speedily 
adopt such Steps for compleating said Road, as will prevent the 
Necessity of our taking any Coercive Measures about the Matter 
which will be much more agreeable to the Town in general but 
more especially to 

Gentlemen 

Your most Obedient Humble Servants 

Matthew S. Parker •) 

T T ( Select 

James Lucas > , . 

T^, , \ Men 

Ebenezer Meder ^ 



212 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

After this sharp admonition from the selectmen of Wolfe- 
borough it is probable that the construction of the road was not 
very long delayed. 

The opening of the road to Middleton was not only advan- 
tageous to the towns through which it passed but also to Wolfe- 
borough and the region lying northwest of it. It was the shortest 
route from Wolfeborough to Rochester, the distance between 
the two towns over the Chestnut Hills, situated in the eastern part 
of P'armington, being about twenty-one miles. Afterwards, when 
a more level road had been constructed to Farmington village, 
that route was preferred, as, although a longer way, it was more 
easily traveled. 

Middleton Corner, largely on account of the through travel, 
became a thriving hamlet, having several stores and two fair- 
sized taverns. It was ten miles distant from Wolfeborough 
Bridge, and the first horse-baiting station on the downward route. 
This road was for many years the principal thoroughfare from the 
Boroughs and other towns in the northern part of Strafford Coun- 
ty. As early as 1830 a four-horse stage passed over it daily on its 
route from Dover to Sandwich. In winter there was much travel 
and transportation from even the Coos region to the market-towns 
on the Piscataqua and its branches, Dover having become a rival 
of the seaport Portsmouth in the sale of heavy merchandise. 

June, 1795, sundry persons, inhabitants of Wolfeborough, 
petitioned to be annexed to Ossipee. Here is the petition : — 

" Humbly shews — 

We your Petitioners Inhabitants of the Town of Wolfborough 
living on the Northeasterly part of said town and on the land 
known by the Addition which Addition was takeing from a Gore 
of land now called ossipee — labour under many difficulties 
espechely those of your petitioners who live on the Northeasterly 
Side of White face mountain (so called) are upwards of Seven 
miles from the Meeting House in Said Wolfborough and are 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 213 

oblig-ed to go through a part of Said ossipee to travel to Said 
Meeting House — Hkewise can have Httle or no benefit of School 
therefore Your petitioners pray that Your Honors would in Your 
great wisdom disunite said Addition of land and annex the Same 
land to the now town of ossipee from which it was formerly taken 
— or otherwise if your Honors See fitt to grant a day of hearing 
on the premises at which time your petitioners, will produce a plan 
of Said Wolfborough — together with the Addition, likewise a plan 
of said ossipee. 

Which will fully appear we believe to your Honors if we can be 
indulged with a day of hereing that by taking said addition from 
said Gore of land has rendered the Easterly part of said ossipee 
to be not more than three milds wide — and on the west line 
upwards of Seventeen miles long, — your petitioners fully relying 
in your Grate wisdom and that you will grant us such relief as 
you shall think proper — in the premises as in duty bound will 
ever pray 

Wolfborough, May 28th day. 1795 

John Young Samuel Hide Nathaniel Hyde 

Thomas young John Swaesy Isaac Goldsmith 

William Goldsmith Isaac Goldsmith Jr James Fernald" 

At the session of the legislature held in June, 1799, a petition 
was presented, purporting to be "the petition of the inhabitants 
living in the southeasterly end of the town of Ossipee ; the inhabi- 
tants living on the first three lots of 'Wolfborough Addition ;' 
the inhabitants living on the northeasterly corner of the town of 
Wakefield, together with the inhabitants living on the two west 
ranges of the first division of land in the town of Effingham," 
asking to be set ofif from the several towns named, and incor- 
porated into a town to be known by the name of Bristol. The 
disadvantage of the inhabitants of these several localities were 
minutely and specifically detailed, and the Honorable Senate 
and House of Representatives, who were represented as "the 



214 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



guardians of the lives, liberties and fortunes of their constituents," 
were earnestly requested to grant the desire of the petitioners. 

As the petition is partially destroyed, the signatures of all the 
subscribers cannot be determined. As far as is ascertained, they 
were : Samuel Hyde, Thomas Young, Richard Glover, Thomas 
Glover, Zachariah Young, Stephen Hyde, John Young, Samuel 
Hyde, Jr., eight citizens of Wolfeborough Addition ; Gershom 
Plummer, Sylvanus Wentworth, Elias Wentworth, Charles Babb, 
John Wentworth, Stephen Wentworth, Ephriam Wentworth, 
Shadrach Folsom, eight citizens of Wakefield ; Timothy Young, 
Ebenezer Tasker, and six other person whose name cannot be 
deciphered, citizens of Effingham ; Moses Hodgdon, Timothy 
Horsom, John Tasker, David Crockett, Ebenezer Horsom, Aaron 
Hanson, Joseph Dearborn, William Keays, James Roberts, Seth 
Fogg, Simon Fogg, John Young, Moses Young, David Philbrick, 
John Yeaton, John Marston, Solomon Emerson, Samuel Tasker, 
Thomas Bickford, Edward Dearborn, James Dearborn, Joseph 
Bickford, George Tasker, and six others, citizens of Ossipee. 

The territory included within the prescribed limits would have 
made a quite desirable country town, embracing as it did Brown's 
and Fogg's Ridges, North Wakefield, Leighton's Corner, and 
Ossipee Pocket. The town of Ossipee had three years previous 
voted approvingly of the measure. At a meeting held in October, 
1799, the town of Wolfeborough voted unanimously against the 
prayer of the petitioners, and appointed "Mr. Henry Rust" an 
agent to oppose "to his utmost" the granting of the petition. 
The scheme for the formation of the new town proved a failure. 

Petition from Wolfeborough Addition : addressed to the General 
Court, 1800. 

"The Petition of us the subscribers Inhabitants of a certain 
Tract of Land known and called by the name of Wolfborough 
addition — 

Humbly Shews — 

That said Addition has ever since the first settlement of the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 215 

Town of Wolfcborough been considered as a part of and belonging 
to said Town, that we have always been in conjunction with the 
Inhabitants of said Town in all Town Affairs, have laboured to and 
enjoy the common priviledges of Towns with them, That we have 
ever considered ourselves as belonging to said Town, and but of 
late have had knowledge that said Addition either by mistake or 
inattention was not mcluded within the Limits of said Wolfe- 
borough incorporation. Therefore we humbly pray that said 
Addition may be annexed to and incorporated with said Town 
of Wolfborough as fully as though it had been included in the 
incorporation of said Town — and we, as in duty bound will ever 
pray— 

Wolfborough May 26th 1800 

Stephen Thurston Joseph Kinnison Ebenezer Tebbets 

Samuel Estes Thomas Whittle WilHam Goldsmith 

Jacob Arak (Trask) Joseph Nudd Samuel Tibbets 

James Fernald John Swaasy Jonathan Tibbets" 

(Consent to the foregoing.) 

"State of New Hampshire Strafford ss Wolfborough May 31st 
1800 

This may certify that all the Persons liveing on Wolfborough 
addition ( so called ) , that are lyeable to be taxed in Said tow n have 
signed a Petition to be incorporated with Said town of Wolf- 
borough — Excepting five Persons — 

Mark Wiggin n 

Dudley Hardy V Selectmen of Wolfborough" 

Jonathan Blake ) 

Here follows a copy of the order on the foregoing petition : — 

^' fVhereupon it is ordered that the petitioners be heard before 
the General Court on the First Tuesday of the next Session and 
that the Petitioners cause that the substance of said Petition and 



21 6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

Order of Court thereon be published in the New Hampshire 
Gazette three weeks successively commencing six weeks prior 
to said day of hearing — Also cause that a Copy of the Petition 
and order of Court be posted up in some Public place in the Town 
of Wolfborough and in Wolfborough Addition six weeks prior 
to said day of hearing that any person or persons may then appear 
and shew cause if any they have, why the prayer thereof may 
not be granted. 

Concord June 12 1800 

Attest Nathaniel Parker Deputy Secretary." 
(Consent of Non-Resident Proprietors) 

"We being informed that a number of the inhabitants of Wolf- 
borough Addition have petitioned the General Court — that said ad- 
dition be annexed to the Town of Wolfbo'ro' — We being Proprietors in 
said tract are also desirous that said addition should be incorporated 
with said Wolfborough having always considered it as intended at the 
Time of the grant and since to be a part of said Town — 

Jonathan Warner 
James Sheafe 
Michael Reade" 

(Certificate of Posting of Notice.) 

We the subscribers hereby certify that a Copy of the Petition of 
Stephen Thurston and others Inhabitants of Wolfborough Ad- 
dition (so call'd) presented to the General Court last June Session 
praying to be annexed to and Incorporated with the Town of 
Wolfborough and Order of Court thereon has been posted up in 
the Town of Wolfborough and Wolfborough Addition agreeably 
to said Order — 



Attest 



Mark Wiggin 

Dudley Hardy J> Select Men of Wolfborough 



Jonathan Blake 
Wolfborough November 14th 1800" 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 217 

(Certificate of Amount of Land taxed, 1800.) 

"Wolfborough November the 15th 1800 

To lohom it may concern this may Certify that we the Subscribers 
Select men of VVolfeborough have taxed in Wolfborough Ad- 
dition (So called) two thousand Eight hundred & twenty Seven 
Acres of Land to the resedents & Nonresedents — 

also in the town of Wolfeborough Exclusive of the addition 
twenty thousand two hundred & forty three acres — 



total Amount 



old town 20243 
addition 2827 



23070 



Attest 

Mark Wiggin 

Dudley Hardy \ Select Men" 

Jonathan Blake 

"State of New Hampshire. 

Tn the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred. 

An Act to annex a certain tract of land in the County of Straf- 
ford commonly called Wolfborough Addition to the town of 

Wolfeborough in said County. 

Wftereas Stephen Thurston and others Inhabitants of a tract of 
land in the County of Strafford commonly known and called by 
the name of Wolfborough Addition, Have petitioned the Gen- 
eral Court representing the said Addition has ever since the 
first Settlement of the town of Wolfeborough been considered 
as a part of and belonging to said Town — that they have always 
acted in conjunction with the Inhabitants of said town in all 
town affairs — that they have always considered themselves as 
belonging to said Wolfeborough, and but of late have had 



2i8 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

knowledge that said Addition, either through mistake or inat- 
tention, was not included with in of Wolfeborough incorpora- 
tion : Wherefore they prayed that said addition might be an- 
nexed to and incorporated with the town of Wolfeborough 
The prayer of which petition appearing just and reasonable: 
Therefore, 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
General Court convened that that tract of land in the County of 
Strafford usually called Wolfborough Addition and bounded 
as follows to wit, Beginning at the Easterly Corner of Wolfe- 
borough, and running Northeasterly on the head or North Line 
of the towns of Brookfield and Wakefield one mile and seventy 
Rods to Ossipee line, thence running Northwesterly on the 
dividing line between the town of Ossipee and said Addition, 
three miles and one half and twenty rods to a Beach Tree 
standing on the Easterly side of the Road leading from Ossipee 
through said Addition, thence running Southwesterly eighty- 
three Rods, thence running Northwesterly on said dividing line 
about one mile and three quarters to the North Corner of 
Number five in said Addition, thence running Southwesterly 
to Wolfeborough Line, thence running Southeasterly on Wolfe- 
borough line to the bound first mentioned, together with the 
Inhabitants thereon, be and hereby is annexed to, and incor- 
porated with the said Town of Wolfeborough as fully, and to 
all intents and purposes as tho' it had been expressly included 
therein by said act of Incorporation. 

Provided nevertheless that nothing herein contained shall be 
understood as shall hinder the General Court on Application 
of Moses Brown who is included in this Bill from being annexed 
to the town of Ossipee with that part of Wolfeborough Addition 
which lays on the Northeasterly side of the road that runs 
Southerly by said Brown's now dwelling house. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 219 

State of New 

Hampshire In the House of Representatives 

Dec. 3rd 1800 

The foregoing Bill having had three several readings passed 
to be enacted. 

Sent up for Concurrence 

Nathaniel Parker Speaker Pro. Tern. 

In Senate December 3rd 1800 — This Bill having read a third 
time was enacted 

Amos Shepard President 

Approved December 4th 1800 

J. T. Oilman, Governor 

A true Copy Attest 

Nathaniel Parker Deputy Secretary" 

Much of the surface of Wolfeborough Addition is uneven, and 
parts of it are mountainous, the four prominent peaks, Batson, 
Trask, Whiteface and Cotton Mountains being situated on its 
northern and eastern borders. It has, however, on its ridges some 
very productive farm land, and when agriculture was popular in 
New England, had a thrifty population. In coming time, when 
men shall have become wiser than now, and more shall have 
left the crowded cities to devote their energies to the cultivation of 
the abandoned farms, these lands will again brighten with the 
verdure of profitable industry. 

In 1849 ^ portion of Alton about one mile in width was severed 
from that town and annexed to Wolfeborough. The tract was 
not a very valuable acquisition, as it had a sparse and indigent 
population and an extensive road to keep in repair. The town of 
Alton very wisely made no objections to the transfer. 



220 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

In 1858 the farm now known as the Fay farm was separated 
from Tuftonborough, and made a part of Wolfeborough. This 
addition lengthened the Wolfeborough road somewhat, but the 
increased value of the real estate within its limits has counter- 
balanced any additional expense arising from that. 

In 1895 the four islands situated near Wolfeborough bay, which 
were within the limits of Alton, were transferred to Wolfeborough. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Varney Family — Bassett Family — Brackett Family — Jesse 
Whitten's Family — Haines Family — Hardy Family 
— Edmonds Family — Chamberlain Family — Nute 
Family — Nudd Family — Shorey Family — Some of the 
more Recent Arrivals. 

AS about this time several families came to Wolfeborough who 
are connected with subsequent important events, sketches of 
them will here be introduced. 

Moses Varney came from England sometime previous to the 
Revolutionary War, and settled in Dover, N. H. He is said to 
have possessed considerable property, owning- three vessels, but 
during the war his fortune was lost. His wife, however, still re- 
tained a small amount of money in her own right, and in the 
early eighties he decided to visit Wolfeborough and make a home 
there. The pair journeyed on horseback to Merry Meeting Bay, 
and from there, through the forest to Wolfeborough. Mr. Var- 
ney purchased that portion of the Sewall lot lying east of the 
main road and south of Smith's River, being bounded by the 
highway, the river, and the mill-lot. He built a dwelling-house 
a little east of the site of Brewster Memorial Hall, and established 
a tannery north of the present location of the Bank Building. He 
had previously carried on the business of tanning, and no doubt 
proposed to combine that with farming in Wolfeborough. He had 
several children — among them, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Richard, 
Judith, Ruth, Sarah. The daughters became respectively the 
wives of Wiggin, James Wiggin, and Paul H. Varney. 

It is probable that Mr. Varney did not at first take his family 
to Wolfeborough, as the next spring Richard, a lad in his teens, 
drew his young sister, Ruth, on a handsled from Merry Meeting 

221 



222 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Bay across the. lake to Wolfeborough. It was nig-ht when they 
neared the shore, and, discovering that the ice was weak, they 
did not proceed directly to Sewall's Landing as their way led, but 
steered for Clark's Point, and reached the shore in safety. That 
night a gale of wind sprang up, and the next morning no ice was 
to be seen in that part of the lake. 

Mr. Varney continued in the tanning business several years, 
probably until his son Joseph was established on the other side 
ot the river. In 1792 he served as selectman. While living on 
the Sewall lot, a daughter died, and was there buried ; the place 
of interment is not known. 

Joseph Varney, the elder son of Moses, was born Jan. 24, 1771. 
Very early in life he exhibited a spirit of enterprise, and when 
twenty-three years old had in his possession eighty acres of land, 
which was unquestionably situated on the east side of the main 
road, opposite the Lucas lot. Here he erected buildings, but sub- 
sequently removed them to the valley below, where there was a 
stream with volume and fall sufiticient to run a bark-mill — a loca- 
tion most desirable for a tannery, and occupied as such for a 
century. Soon after his majority, Mr. Varney began the busi- 
ness of tanning, at first in a small way, as his means were quite 
limited. What he lacked in money, however, he made up in 
energy. He purchased of the farmers such hides as he could ob- 
tain, or manufactured them into leather on shares. Shoes were 
then quite generally made by itinerant cordwainers at the homes 
of their customers, who were expected to provide the stock ; hence, 
leather was sold almost entirely at retail, his customers being 
from the neighboring inhabitants. After a while he commenced 
making boots and shoes. 

Mr. Varney was not content with his first purchase of land, but 
increased the number of his acres, until they bordered on both 
the Pine Hill and main roads. He made a success of farming. 
His land was well adapted for cultivation, and his tannery fur- 
nished fertilizers for it. Besides, he had unusual facilities for se- 



HlaTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



223 



curing laborers. Many of his customers had more muscle than 
money, and were quite willing to exchange it for his goods. 
Working by the day was quite a common affair with many of 
them, and even some who were in well-to-do circumstances would 
occasionally spare a day to the tanner ; hence, when his farm 
work dragged, he could by judicious management obtain assist- 
ance from the occasional laborers. 

Mr. Varney's combined enterprises rendered him a very busy 
man, and for several decades he probably employed more 
laborers, did more business, and accumulated more wealth than 
any other citizen of Wolfeborough. Like other thrifty men of his 
time, he speculated somewhat in lands, purchasing such as were 
owned by the town and Masonian proprietors, and reselling them 
to others, generally in smaller quantites. In 1809, through the 
agency of Nathaniel A. Haven, of Portsmouth, he bought of 
Edward B. Long and his wife, Mary Long, a grand-daughter of 
John Tomlinson, who were living in England, the four large 
islands lying near Wolfeborough harbor, which contained seventy- 
nine acres. These islands were then within the limits of Alton, 
but have since been annexed to Wolfeborough. In 1820 he and 
Ichabod Libbey sold the George Jaffrey lot, which was num- 
bered twelve in the Masonian proprietors' division, to Jeremy 
Towle. It contained three hundred acres, and the price paid was 
eight hundred dollars. 

Mr. Varney belonged to the society of Friends, or Quakers, as 
they were formerly generally called, and his house was a free 
hosteln,' for the traveling members of that sect. This afforded 
him an opportunity to become acquainted with such men as 
Whittier, the Cartlands, and other early reformers. On moral 
questions his family was pretty sure to be on the right side. 

Joseph Varney married Hannah, the daughter of John Bas- 
sett. They had twelve children: Huldah. born June 5 ,1800; 
Susan, born Nov. 25, 1802 ; Almira, born Feb. 26, 1804, married 
David C. Breed, of Weare ; Lydia, born April 20, 1808, married 



224 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Samuel Dennis, of Dover; Moses, born April lo, 1810, married 
Almira Huzzey, of Berwick, Me. ; Ruth, born Aug. 10, 1813 ; 
Richard, born Jan. 4, 1815 ; Mary B., born Jan. 12, 1817, married 
David Breed, of Weare ; Isabel, born May 12, 1819, died young; 
Agustus C, born Jan. 2, 1824, died young; Joseph E., born Sept. 
18, 1825, died young; Joseph, born Sept. 12, 1829. 

Huldah, the eldest child, became the wife of Jonas Varney, 
who came from Farmington and served to her father an ap- 
prenticeship as tanner. The fruit of this union was a son, born 
March 26, 1825, whom they named Richard Agustus, probably in 
memory of his Uncle Richard, who so heroicly conveyed his sister 
Ruth over the treacherous ice in safety to the shore. This name 
was afterward changed to the more familiar Augustus J. now 
borne by the well-known Wolfeborough citizen, a member of the 
late firm of Libbey, Varney & Co. He has a son, born Nov. 15, 
1859, named Penn, an architect who resides in Lynn, Mass. 

Jonas Varney, after his marriage, engaged in the business of 
tanning on his own account, having his tannery a little west of the 
site of the Lake Shore House. He soon died, and his widow 
subsequently married Lindley M. Hoag, a talented preacher from 
Vermont. Mrs. Hoag herself was a very acceptable public 
speaker. They had four children : Hannah Huldah, who named 
the popular steamer "Lady of the Lake" that so long furrowed 
"Saukee's" waters ; Joseph Lindley ; Penn, who was drowned at 
sea, and Zeno K. After the death of Mrs. Hoag the rest of the 
family left New England. 

Moses Varney, the eldest son of Joseph, succeeded his father 
in the business of tanning and farming, and for many years em- 
ployed a large number of hands and manufactured a large amount 
of leather. He was quite unfortunate. In 1845 his tannery was 
burned, his pecuniary loss above insurance being about ten thou- 
sand dollars, and in 1877 a second tannery, a barn, and shed, with 
a large amount of stock, was consumed by fire, a net loss of about 
fifteen thousand dollars. March 13, 1874, his eldest son, Charles 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 22=; 

\V., aged twenty-five years, was drowned in Lake Winnipesaukee. 
Since Mr. Varney's death some business has been done at the old 
estabHshment, but not for several years. The most of the farm 
has been sold in lots to different individuals. The buildings and 
some land remained in the possession of his widow until her 
death, which occurred in 1899. 

Joseph Varney, the youngest of the family, has, until recently, 
been actively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of 
leather, his establishment being situated on the shore of the lake. 
He has recently retired from the business. He married Emma J., 
daughter of Hon. Nicholas V. Whitehouse, of Rochester, and 
has one daughter, the wife of George F. Symonds, who was for- 
merly associated with his father-in-law in business. 

Paul H. Varney came from Chestnut Hills, Farmington, about 
1812. He purchased that portion of the mill-lot which included 
the upper falls on Smith's River, and here erected a saw-mill, a 
dwelling-house, a barn, and out-buildings. Having obtained pos- 
session of a tract of land lying on the Harvey Brook, where Wil- 
liam Kent had erected a saw-mill, he removed that also to Smith's 
River, and so had two saw-mills on the same stream. On this 
tract he planted extensive corn-fields. In 1816 he erected a fac- 
tory on Smith's River. It was raised in a snowstorm on the sixth 
day of June. He never completely filled it with machinery, but 
occupied it for carding wool, dressing, and, to some extent, manu- 
facturing cloth. It afterwards came into the possession of the 
Pickering Factory Company, who occupied it until 1841, when 
it was burned. Charles and George W. Warren afterwards built 
a starch-mill on the site, but the business did not prove remunera- 
tive, and was soon abandoned. 

Mr. Varney married Sarah, the youngest daughter of Moses 
Varney, Sr., and had one son, named Henry, and several daugh- 
ters. Henry finally settled in the west. One of the daughters, 
Huldah, was drowned by breaking through the ice on Crooked 



226 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Pond while on her way to school. Another daughter, Jane, be- 
came a fearless equestrienne, managing untamed colts with uncom- 
mon skill. She married Simeon Durgin, and removed to Sand- 
wich, where her father made his home during the last years of his 
life. 

John Bassett came from Lynn, Mass., in 1790, and settled on a 
lot of land which has ever since been known as the Bassett farm. 
The buildings were erected at a considerabledistance from the main 
road, the location where they stood being now approached by 
Mill Street, which has been somewhat recently opened. During 
the management of affairs by his grandson, Daniel Bassett, Jr., 
the two-story part of the house was removed to North Main 
Street, and is now, with a portion of the farm, owned and oc- 
cupied by the heirs of the late Abel Haley. The one-story part 
still remains with another portion of the farm where the build- 
mgs were first erected. Mr. Bassett's children were : Daniel, 
married Abigail Bean ; John, married Ruth Wiggin ; Lydia, mar- 
ried Samuel Nowell ; Hannah, married Joseph Varney ; Sally, 
married Jonathan Buffum ; Rebecca, married William Lyons. 

Daniel, the eldest son, succeeded his father in the management 
of the farm, becoming a successful farmer. He spent most of his 
active life in Wolfeborough, but in old age accompanied his son, 
Daniel Bassett, Jr., to Minnesota, whither some of his children 
had previously emigrated. Following is a list of his children : 
John, went west when a young man ; Hannah, married Amos 
Jones, of Gilmanton ; Joel, went to Minneapolis and accumulated 
a large property ; Daniel, married Jane Campney ; Philip, went 
west ; Ursula, married Joseph Canney, of Dover. 

Daniel Bassett Jr.'s children were Abbie Susan, born Feb. 14, 
1846, and Maria Jane, born Sept. 22, 1849. ^^r. Bassett remained 
in Wolfeborough until middle age, and was thrifty ; he then went 
to Minneapolis, and became wealthy. He was quite active in his 
adopted home politically and financially. His decease occurred 
in 1899. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 227 

John Bassett, second son of John the settler, was a farmer and 
school-teacher. For twenty-eight successive years he had charge 
of winter district schools, and during that period taught a few 
terms in the summer. He became the owner of a farm on the bor- 
ders of Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough, the dividing line be- 
tween the two towns passing through his house. Here he re- 
sided a number of years, but afterwards purchased the Thomas- 
Townsend-Fox-Tuttle farm, now occupied by his son George 
W. Bassett. His son John Newell Bassett then took possession 
of the Wolfeborough-Tuftonborough farm, where he reared a 
family consisting of one son, Charles S., who now lives on the 
farm, and two daughters. Mr. Bassett married Ruth Wiggin, a 
daughter of James Wiggin, and had children as follows : Daniel 
W., born Feb. 5, 1812, died young; John N., born March 2, 181 5, 
married Lydia Langley ; Charles D., born May 13, 1816. went 
west ; Ruth, born May 7, 1820, married Isaac Lovering, of Free- 
dom ; Gulielma, born Jan. 28, 1822, married Jacob K. Puring^on, 
of Dover; James, born Sept. 23, 1825, went to Boston; George 
W., born March 28, 1829, married Roxanna FuUerton. George 
W. Bassett has three children, James A., Emma, and Clara. 

Benning Brackett, a brother of Dr. Joshua Brackett, of Ports- 
mouth, a town proprietor of Wolfeborough, was born in New 
Market in 1745. He married Sarah Bennett of the same town, 
and had a family of sixteen children, John, Sally, Elizabeth, Ben- 
ning, Daniel (died an infant), Nancy, Comfort, Daniel 2nd. 
Joshua, Polly, Huldah, Catherine, Hannah, Purney, George, 
Lydia. Fifteen of these reached an average age of seventy years. 
None of them were dissolute or poor or very wealthy. They were 
great readers. Brought up in the same neighborhood as was the 
New Market Folsom family, they possessed similar charac- 
teristics, not being especially distinguished for brilliancy, but 
having sound judgment and probity — the essential qualities of 
good citizenship. The two families, although resembling each 
other in mentality, were strikingly dissimilar in physique, the 



228 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Folsoms being spare, the Bracketts corpulent. Some of them 
were very obese, Benning weighing about five hundred pounds 
and Daniel, 2nd, six hundred. 

John, the first-born of Benning's children, having received a 
settler's lot from his Uncle Joshua, came to Wolfeborough, and, 
marrying Betsy, daughter of James Folsom, located where the 
hamlet Brackett's Corner now is. Here he remained during his 
lifetime. His children were : William, born 1802 ; Joshua, born 
1804; John M., born 1807; Betsy, born 1809; Hannah, born 1815. 
Two of these reached the age of seventy years. Joshua was ninety- 
six years old when he died. He and his sister Betsy were never 
married. William spent a portion of his life in Ossipee ; he had 
three daughters. 

John M. Brackett was born in 1807, and always resided in 
Wolfeborough. In earlier life he was an extensive farmer, but 
for many years was officially connected with banking and other 
corporations, being long president of Lake National Bank and 
treasurer of Carroll County Savings Bank. For many years he 
was one of the most prominent republicans in the state, and was 
frequently mentioned as candidate for governor. He was repre- 
sentative to the legislature in 1855 ^"^ 1837, ^ messenger (1858) 
to carry the electoral vote for Fremont and Dayton to Washing- 
ton, a member of the council of Governor Gilmore in 1864, and 
a member of the council of Governor Smythe in 1865. No mem- 
ber of the council during these two important years rendered 
more faithful service. Mr. Brackett was injured in a railroad 
accident which occurred at the Weirs in 1852, and was ever after- 
ward a cripple. He married Sarah, daughter of Moses Thomp- 
son. They had two daughters, who lived to maturity, one of 
them, Sarah, marrying, but both dying before the decease of their 
father, which occurred in 1887. 

Jesse Whitton was born in Brentwood, March 18, 1766. His 
father early deceased, and his mother, with her son, came to 
Wolfeborough. She married Benjamin Evans, and they came 




JESSE WHITTEN 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



229 



into the possession of the John Sinkler lot, now the farm of G. B. 
Clark. Here were born to them five children: Benjamin, born 
March i. 1777, settled in Alton; Lydia, born Aug. 8. 1778. mar- 
ried Elder Isaac Townsend ; Elizabeth, born May 21, 1780, mar- 
ried Dr. Tliomas Saltmarsh, of New Durham ; Mary, born Aug. 
18, 1782, married Samuel Connor; Rebecca, born June 27, 1784. 
Mr. Evans died previous to 1788, and his widow continued to 
manage the farm and keep tavern. She subsequently married 
again. 

Jesse Whitton, at the age of sixteen years, shipped on board a 
privateer, and sailed a cruise of eight months. At about the time 
of reaching his majority he married Hannah Allard, who was born 
Feb. 19, 1768. He settled on a fifty-acre lot included in the 
Torrey right. It lay on Smith's River, perhaps on both sides of 
it. He first erected buildings on a point which projected into 
Crooked Pond, but afterwards removed them farther from the 
shore to the spot where now stand those occupied by Howard 
B. Willey. He afterwards purchased more land, at one time own- 
ing all or nearly all on the southerly side of the highway from 
the farm of Charles Morgan to the mill-lot. He also owned some 
on the northerly side of the road, on which he erected two small 
houses, one now enlarged and owned by Alonzo Avery, and the 
other occupied by Mrs. I. E. C. Pratt. The former was for the 
eldest son. Stephen, and the latter for the widow of the same. 

Before the construction of the Wolfeborough railroad, most of 
the winter travel from the easterly part of the town to the village 
was across Lake Wentworth, Jesse Whitton's farm, and Crooked 
Pond. When Mr. Whitton was disposing of his land between 
the highway and the river, he intended to reserve a free public 
passage from the street to the water at Mast Landing, but failed 
to have the reservation legally made, and several years after the 
owner of the land forbade people crossing over the passage-way. 
This was an inconvenience, not only to the general public, but 
also to the Whitton families then residing on the "Neck," as it 



230 HISTORY OF WOLPEBOROUGH. 

was called. At the petition of the father and married sons, the 
selectmen laid out the passage as a public highway, the Whittons 
paying the land damages awarded. As the owner of the land re- 
quired the award to be paid in coin, the short passage to the 
water has since been called "Silver Street." As the public were 
still allowed a free winter passage across the Jesse Whitton farm, 
the town subsequently voted to assume the cost of the land dam- 
ages. 

Mr. Whitton was a charter member of the first church or- 
ganized in Wolfeborough, and for half a century most of its meet- 
ings were held at his house. He was an enthusiastic and quite 
demonstrative religionist. Although lacking an education, he 
claimed some knowledge of the healing art, and not unfrequently 
his plasters and decoctions of roots and herbs were more ef- 
ficacious than the lancet and mercurial preparations so much 
used by the medical profession of his tim.e. He could not ex- 
hibit the diploma, but bore the title of Doctor, and had a limited 
practice for many years m some ailments. He was a person of 
small stature and remarkably agile. Many stories are told of his 
prowess as a wrestler, even when advanced in years. He was an 
adept at capturing rattle-snakes, and frequently visited the island 
in Lake Winnipesaukee, so noted for the propagation of that rep- 
tile for the purpose of securing them, valuing very highly for 
external applications the oil which he extracted from their bodies. 

Mr. Whitton's children were: Stephen, born Oct. 19, 1788, 
married Eunice Earle ; Henry, bom March 26, 1791, married 
Abigail Triggs ; Lydia, born March 26, 1793, married Isaac 
Clough; Miriam, born Feb. 23, 1795, married Thomas Baker, of 
Brookfield ; Betsy, born Nov. 24, 1796, married James Ricker, of 
Alton; Hannah, born Jan. 23, 1799, married Charles Baker of 
Brookfield; Jesse, born March 18, 1801, married Betsy Drew; 
Nancy, born Feb. 28, 1803, married Samuel Nudd, Jr. ; Daniel, 
born Jan. 25, 1805, married Sarah Dore ; Lurannah, born May 
3, 1808, married Joseph Johnson; Polly, born Feb. 9, 1810, mar- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



231 



ried Benjamin F. Garland; Harriet, born July 12, 1813, died 



young. 



He lived to the age of ninety-three years. The farm, which 
was divided between the two youngest sons, was somew'hat en- 
larged by the purchase of land that originally belonged to the 
King lot, and is now owned by Howard B. Willey and his son, 
Alexander H. On it Mr. Willey has erected fine farm-buildings, 
and has greatly increased its producing capacity. 

Masonian proprietary lot numbered six, which was situated at 
the eastern corner of the Lords' Quarter division, fell to Thomas 
Packer. It was one hundred and sixty-seven rods wide and about 
three hundred rods long, containing three hundred acres. Sheriflf 
Packer donated a settler's lot of one hundred acres to Abram 
Prebble. (This afterward came into the possession of the Haines 
family.) In 1772 he deeded one hundred acres to Joshua Haines, 
of Greenland, who twelve years after came to Wolfeborough with 
his three sons — Jacob, Matthias, and Joseph, all of whom settled 
on the Packer lot. 

The earlier members of this family were inclined to longevity. 
The father, Joshua, died at the age of ninety years, and Jane, a 
sister of his, at ninety-four. His son Jacob lived to be eighty- 
nine years old and his son Joseph to be eighty-six ; a daughter, 
Mehitable, was ninety-four years at the time of her death. Ruth, 
the wife of Jacob Haines, lived to the age of eighty-five years. 

After the death of his father, Jacob Haines came into the pos- 
session of the easterly portion of the lot, which was quite ele- 
vated, and is slill called Haines Hill. From this height and an- 
other prominent elevation, Martin's Hill, the proprietors estab- 
lished signals for their own convenience and that of the surround- 
ing inhabitants. After the division of the training-band into two 
companies, Jacob Haines became captain of the soldiers in the 
northern part of the town. He served as selectman, moderator, 
and representative. 

His children were five in number : James, served as moderator 



232 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and selectman. Most of his life was spent in Wolfeborough, but 
during his last years he made his home with his son, James Mon- 
roe Haines, a very respectable and quite influential citizen of 
Dover. Matthias, born in 1796, married Eliza Wiggin. Jacob 
went to Chelsea. Ruth married Richard Bickford. Mary mar- 
ried Joseph Ney, of Ossipee. 

The children of Matthias Haines, the son of Jacob, were : Betsy 
W., bom Nov. 6, 1823, married Alonzo F. Tebbetts ; Ruth, born 
Nov. 4, 1825, married Nicholas Abbott, of Manchester; Mat- 
thias, born March 26, 1828, went to Weston, Vermont ; Mary J., 
born Nov. 15, 1832, married Frank Knight, of Portland, Me.; 
Lydia, born July 21, 1835, married John Boothby of Waterville, 
Me.; Joseph A., born Feb. 15, 1840, went to Pawtucket, R. I.; 
Jacob A., born Oct. 13, 1843, resides in Portsmouth. 

Joseph Haines the youngest son of Joshua, purchased the 
northerly part of the Packer lot, working for five dollars a month 
to pay for it. His children were : Polly, married Phineas John- 
son ; Eleanor, married Richard Nudd ; Hannah, married Elijah 
Hersey ; Sally, married Joshua Goldsmith ; Joseph, 2nd. 

Joseph, 2nd, remained on the home farm, and there reared four 
sons, George, John L., Joshua B., and Joseph R. (better known 
as Rodney). The oldest and youngest of these spent their entire 
lives on the farm. George married a daughter of George W. 
Lord, of Ossipee, by whom he had two children, George A. and 
Susan, the wife of William Whitton. 

George A. Haines was formerly a teacher, and has been for 
several years a member of the school board. He has charge of 
the Haines farm, which includes the whole Packer lot and an ad- 
ditional hundred acres. It is very productive and finely stocked, 
being accounted the best in Wolfeborough. Mr. Haines is of the 
fifth generation that has occupied it. 

John L. married a sister of George's wife. He erected the 
house in Wolfeborough village now owned by Mrs. Henry Jones. 
Joshua B. married Hannah, a daughter of Jonathan Fernald. His 




JOSEPH R. HAINES 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 233 

son, Herbert E., is a Wolfeboroiigh merchant, and occupies a 
house erected by his father situated near the Brewster Free 
Academy grounds. Joseph R. married the widow of his brother 
George. He was four times elected a member of the New Hamp- 
shire House of Representatives and was frequently the candidate 
of a minority party. 

John Haines, who occupied the farm in North Wolfeborough 
cleared by Isaac Poor, was a brick mason. He served two years 
as town clerk. Here is a record of the births of his family of 
twelve children: Lucy M., born Oct. 4, 1806; William, born 
Sept. I, 1808; Joshua, born Aug. 24, 1810; John, born Aug. 17, 
1812; Mary B., born June i, 1815; Matthias M., born May 23, 
1817; Hannah, born May 21, 1819; Charles F., born Oct. 2, 
1821 ; Martha J., born Oct. 5, 1823; Sarah A., born Aug. 18, 
1825 ; Arvilla B., born Aug. 8, 1827 ; Daniel J., born June 2, 1829. 

Robert Hardy came from Exeter to Wakefield in 1792, and set- 
tled near the locality where Union village is now situated. Tliere 
he became interested in building a mill. His son, Dudley, who 
bore the name of one of his ancestors, Rev. Samuel Dudley, of 
Exeter, came to Wolfeborough in 1788, and purchased of James 
Sheafe, of Portsmouth, one hundred acres of land for three hun- 
dred and sixty dollars, payable in beef and cash. He seems to 
have taken quite an interest in mills, having at one time a small 
grist-mill near the Frost meadow and afterwards one at the 
Isaac Willey mill privilege. He established a carding and fuUing 
mill at Water Village in 1814, which in 1821 came into the pos- 
session of George W. Lord. In 1795 he was commissioned lieu- 
tenant in the militia company, and finally rose to the rank of 
major, a title by which he was thereafter designated. He served 
as selectman ten years. He married Hannah Johnson. Their 
children were: Hannah, born Dec. 7, 1793, married Mark Wig- 
gin. 2nd; Sally, born Aug. 9, 1795, married Isaac Stanton, of 
Brookfield ; Robert, born Sept. 6, 1797, settled in Kennebunk, 
Me. ; Nabby, born Aug. 17, 1799, married Thomas Blake ; Dudley, 



234 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

born Oct. 5, 1803, went to Iowa; Loammi, born Aug. 6, 1805, 
married Mary B. Haines ; Ezra, born Feb. 9, 1808, married and 
remained on the farm ; Charles, born June 20, 1819, went to 
Ossipee. 

Loammi Hardy became a cripple in early life from rheumatism. 
He learned the tailors' trade, but soon gave up the business on 
account of his infirmities, becoming a clerk for Samuel Avery. 
In 1838 he was elected town clerk of Wolfeborough, and in 1839, 
1840, and 1842 was re-elected. In 1843 he was elected register 
of deeds for Carroll County, and by repeated elections retained 
the office thirty years, or until the time of his death. He had six 
children born in Ossipee, the place of his residence after becom- 
ing register of deeds. His daughter, Arvilla, who is the wife 
of Rev. A. H. Thompson, of Raymond, N. H., is the onlv one of 
his children residing in New Hampshire. 

Ezra Hardy remained on the home place. He had one son, 
who reached manhood. Both father and son have deceased, and 
the farm is in the possession of Henry Nute. The large elm 
standing near the dwelling-house was planted there in 1799 by 
Isaac Poor, a neighbor. 

John Edmonds resided in Portsmouth, and possessed consider- 
able real estate in that town. In 1786 his son Joseph, born in 
1730, came to Wolfeborough, and purchased of Matthew S. 
Parker the entire "Neck," with the exception of Reuben Libbey's 
settler's lot. Joseph Edmonds died in 181 1, and his wife, Ruth, 
two years later. Their graves and that of their son Jonathan 
are in a hillside pasture on the "Neck," miles from any human 
habitation, surrounded by a neatly-built wall of cobbles, and 
marked with engraved headstones. 

The children of Joseph and Ruth Edmonds were John, Jane, 
Jonathan, and Molly, who became the wife of David Piper. The 
"Neck" property was divided between the two sons, John and 
Jonathan. The children of John were Joseph, 2nd, Isaac, and 
Stephen. The last mentioned died of yellow-fever at Ports- 




5 

Q 
O 

o 

o 



I 

a 

LJJ 



LU 
Q 

111 

a: 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 235 

mouth in 18 14, while he was serving as soldier at the fort. His 
brother Isaac had l)een drafted, but he volunteered to act as his 
substitute. 

Isaac married Betsy Calder. He became a blacksmith, and set 
up business in what is now Wolfeborough Falls. There he 
erected the house now owned by Timothy Young, and built a 
shop on what is now the Freewill Baptist meeting-house lot. 
This was afterwards removed to the easterly side of the highway 
by Lindley M. Hoag and used for manufacturing oilcloths. It 
was afterward occupied as a store by Parker & Wiggin, and is 
now attached to the house of the late B. F. Parker. Isaac sub- 
sequently returned to his farm on the "Neck." He had one 
daughter, Lydia, born in 1814, who married Thomas Johnson. 

Joseph Edmonds, 2nd, became a carpenter, and was able to 
accomplish a great amount of work. He built many houses in 
Wolfeborough and its vicinity. For one hundred dollars he would 
perform all the labor necessary to construct a good-sized two- 
story house, hewing and framing the timber, and planing the ceil- 
ings, floors, and clapboards without any machine work what- 
ever. That was the price which he received for constructing the 
house that has been occupied by several generations of the Rich- 
ard Rust family. He purchased a few acres of the Folsom farm, 
severed from the main body by the road laid out in 1799, and 
some adjoining lands, on which he erected buildings, and estab- 
lished a home. He married Mary, the daughter of Jacob Fol- 
som, 

The children of Stephen, the youngest son of Joseph Edmonds 
were : Serepta J., married William Morrell, of Dover ; Lydia, 
married A. J. McDonald ; Laura, married Charles A. Ellis. 

The first Goodwin to settle in Wolfeborough was Elisha, who 
was born in Kittery, Me., Dec. 7, 1793. He married Betsy Gil- 
man, of Milton, and for several years lived in New Durham, from 
which town he came to Wolfeborough. He was a veteran of the 
War of 1812. Mr. Goodwin was the miller of what is now known 



236 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

as Wolfeborough Falls, and raised a large family of children. He 
died Aug. 7, 1881. The children were: John Rimick, born Oct. 
I, 181 5, died March 10, 1832, Sarah Leavitt, born Feb. 20, 1817, 
died Aug. 5, 1839; Elisha, born Feb. 4, 1819, married Martha A. 
Smith, 1869 ; Hannah Colby, born May 29, 1822, married Capt. 
Silas May, Aug. 31, 1847, died 1864; Jeremiah Fogg, born July 
16, 1823, died in West, March 11, 1852; James William, born 
May 9, 1825, died young; Augustine Decatur, born April 
5, 1827, died in Boston, March 9, 1855 ; Maria Pauline, born 
Dec. 9, 1829, died Sept. 18, 1846; John Wesley, born Feb. 12, 
1832, died July 15, 1857; James Franklin, born June 5, 1834, was 
a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, died 1869; Arvilla Jane, 
born April 21, 1836, married Roscoe G. Holmes, Aug. 31, 1857; 
JosephWilliam.bornMay 13, 1838, married Ellen A. Furber, June 
19, 1867; Sarah Ellen, born March 23, 1841, married William W. 
Page. 

Elisha Goodwin, second, acquired a considerable property, and 
his fine residence is now occupied by his widow. He built Good- 
win's block and was a famous breeder of fine horses. He died 
Jan. 26, 1877. 

Joseph W. Goodwin, another son, has held many positions of 
trust and was postmaster during the first Cleveland administra- 
tion. One of his sons, Elisha, is storekeeper for the B. & M. 
railroad. Joseph W., Jr., and Martin F. are both Harvard grad- 
uates. Joseph W.'s children are: Elisha, born Aug. 22, 1868, 
Rosa Gertrude, born Apr. 9, 1870, married Herbert P. Haywood; 
Nellie, born March 19, 1872, died in infancy ; Joseph William, 
born July 5, 1873; Martin Furber, born Sept. 12, 1875; Arthur 
Rendall, born Jan. 18, 1880. 

Abram Guptill was the son of William Guptill, of Berwick, Me., 
and was born Aug. 5, 1808. He spent a portion of his life at 
sea, having command of a vessel plying for ports in the North 
Sea. He came to Wolfeborough in 1839 as superintendent of the 
woolen mills of the Pickering Manufacturing Co., then located 




DANIEL CHAMBERLAIN 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 237 

on Smith's River. He continued in this capacity until the fac- 
tory was burned in 1842. He then engaged in lumbering, mill- 
ing, and steamboating on the lake. He owned the once famous 
craft, the "Dolly Button." Soon after the Wolfeborough rail- 
road was built, he became station agent at Wolfeborough Falls, 
then Mill Village, which position he held until a few years before 
his death, which occurred Jan. 17, 1898. "Uncle Abram" Guptill, 
as he was known to the present generation, was a man cordially 
esteemed by the community in which he lived. Somewhat 
irascible in manner in his latter days, he nevertheless possessed a 
heart even more generous than his physique, which was far from 
slender. The writer has often remarked the uniform kindness 
with which all who knew him spoke of "Uncle Abram." Mr. 
Guptill had four children : Martha A., born Feb. 9, 1834, died 
young; Harriet F., died young; Georgianna, born May 4, 1835, 
married Winthrop D. Hersey, Charles H., born Jan. 13, 1838, 
died Dec, 1889, married Susan J. Thompson. 

John Chamberlin was a resident of Brookfield, where he was 
selectman for many years, and several times representative to the 
legislature. He married, in 1774, Mary Jackson; in 1794, Joan- 
na Banfield. He came to Wolfeborough in 1822 and purchased 
of William Triggs the farm now occupied by Mrs. David Cham- 
l:)erlin. He had a large family of children, and many of his 
descendants are now living in Wolfeborough. David, his eleventh 
child, was a farmer, tanner, and shoemaker, and lived on the place 
until his death. His son, George E. Chamberlin, is a farmer, 
tanner, and shoemaker, and resides on the old homestead. Ira, 
tenth child of John Chamberlin, was a farmer, which avocation 
his son, John A. Chamberlin, follows. John A. has been super- 
visor several years, and has served one term as representative. 
Jason Chamberlain, a former resident of this town, removed to 
Marblehead, Mass. ; at his death he bequeathed five hundred 
dollars for the poor of Wolfeborough and five hundred dollars 
for those of Tuftonborough. Dudley Chamberlain, son of John, 



238 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



came to Wolfeborough about 1800, settled on a farm near Frost's 
Corner. His son Daniel, who became the most prominent mem- 
ber of the family was born in Wolfeboroug-h, April 12, 1812. 

He was the sixth of a family of twelve children and at the age 
of seventeen, although his father was well-to-do, "bought his 
time" and proceeded to carve out a career for himself. In those 
times, as today, Boston was the Mecca of the country-born 
youth, and thither young Chamberlain turned his steps. He first 
went to Charlestown, Mass., and engaged in a variety of work, 
including blacksmithing, until he at length embarked in the hotel 
business. This he followed until his death, which occurred in 
Boston, July 13, 1879. 

Mr. Chamberlain chose wisely when he decided upon his life 
vocation. He successfully conducted many notable hostleries, 
among them being the old Natick stage tavern and the old Pearl 
Street House in Boston. He was best known, however, as the 
proprietor of the Adams House in Boston, with which he was 
identified for some forty years and which is still one of the city's 
leading hotels. 

His success m life was largely attributable to three things. 
First, his natural kindness of heart, expressed in a marked 
geniality of deportment. He was the ideal Boniface. Second, his 
proverbial honesty and jealous regard for his word. Third, and 
most important of all perhaps, he had the encouragement and 
support of a Wolfeborough girl as his wife. This was Maria, a 
daughter of Isaac Martin. She was known for her strong Chris- 
tian character, her unswering devotion to her family and friends, 
and her liberal benefactions to the needy. She was also a promi- 
nent figure in the best social life of Boston and was in every sense 
an admirable helpmeet to her husband. 

Mr. Chamberlain's second wife was Miss Chapman, of Tewks- 
bury. Five children, two sons and three daughters, all by his 
first marriage, survived him. While he lived, Mr. Chamberlain 
always visited his old home as often as circumstances permitted. 




JAMES BICKFORD 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



239 



A daughter occupies, each summer, a charming residence on the 
lake shore. 

Cornehus Jenness came from Rochester to Ossipee ; in 1791 
removed to Wolfeborough, and settled on the farm now occupied 
by his great-grandson, Cyrus Jenness. His son John had twelve 
children, and his son Joseph eleven. There are several repre- 
sentatives living in the northeast part of the town. Sarah A. 
Jenness, a descendant of Cornelius, enjoys the honor of being the 
first daughter of the county to graduate as a physician. 

Jotham, Stephen, and Nicholas Nute, brothers, came from 
Milton in 1798, and settled on what is now known as Nute's 
Ridge. Their descendants still reside there. Tristam, Paul, and 
James Nute, brothers, came from Madbury about 1800, and set- 
tled in the Lords' Quarter. George W. Nute represented one 
branch of this family. 

John Bickford was the pioneer of the family in America. He 
left England to avoid conscription, came to Wolfeborough early, 
and was a weaver. His son Jonathan was a millwright and far- 
mer; he settled on land now occupied by his grandson, Joseph 
H., son of James Bickford. The family have served the town as 
selectmen and representatives. Wilmot Bickford settled on the 
farm where Thomas J. Bickford until recently resided. 

James Bickford, son of Jonathan, was born Aug. 26, 1802. He 
was born and always lived on the farm occupied by the settler. He 
was a man of considerable importance in his time, serving as 
representative twice and selectman four years. He married 
Eleanor, the daughter of Phineas Johnson and had two children, 
Mary E., bom April 17, 1831, who married Ira O. Severance, of 
Brockton, Mass., and Joseph H., born Feb. i, 1833, who mar- 
ried Eliza A., the daughter of David Cotton. Joseph H. has held 
the offices of selectman and tax collector. 

About 1796 Samuel, William, and Benjamin Nudd came here 
from Greenland and settled in the north part of the town. George 
Nudd's daughter Mary was a graduate of State Normal School, 



240 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Salem, Mass. ; was class poet. In 1863 she wrote a poem for the 
"Triennial Convention of the Alumni." In 1872 she married 
Thomas Robinson, a professor in Howard University, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

John Shorey came to Wolfeborough in 1796. He purchased 
one of "the fifty-acre lots" on Pine Hill, granted by Paul March 
to the first six settlers on the main road, each of whom was en- 
titled to one hundred and fifty acres. This was sold to Shorey 
by Abigail, widow of Thomas Piper. John Shorey was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier. His son Joseph made the watering-trough which 
has been by the roadside a hundred years. One son, Lyford, died 
at the age of ninety-five. 

Josiah Willey came from Dover. At the age of eighteen he 
enhsted in the Revolutionary army. Of his children Valentine 
was a farmer and mill man. He was clerk and deacon of the 
Second Christian Church. His son, Valentine B. Willey, suc- 
ceeded him in business. 

In 1700 James, William, John, and Joseph Cate came from 
England to Portsmouth, and settled in that and neighboring 
towns. Neal Cate, grandson of James, settled in Brookfield in 
about 1790, on a farm adjoining Wolfeborough. He had ten 
children. Daniel, his eldest son, located on a farm in this town 
in 1 82 1. He married a daughter of Nathaniel Willey. Mr. Wil- 
ley lived to the age of ninety-five, and his wife to the age of ninety- 
four ; they had been married seventy-five years. Mr. Cate and 
his wife had been married sixty years. At the time of their death 
Mr. Cate was eighty-eight years old, Mrs. Cate eighty-one. The'y 
had eight children. Moses T. and John G. have been traders 
and manufacturers. Two sons of Moses T. have received a col- 
legiate education. One has entered the ministry ; the other, E. 
E. Cate, has practiced law. James Cate received a lot of land 
from his father, on which Charles J. Cate now lives. 

Tobias Banfield came from Portsmouth about 1812 and pur- 
chased the farm since known as the Banfield farm. He had eight 




GREENLEAF B. CLARK 



HIHTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 24I 

children. Of his children, Joseph became a clergyman ; his son 
Everett C. became a lawyer, and after several years' residence in 
Washington, D. C, where he held an important government of- 
fice, returned to Wolfeborough ; Joshua was for many years a 
merchant in Dover ; Nathaniel served as selectman ; he was the 
father of A. W. Banfield, a merchant in Boston for a long time. 
The family is now represented in Wolfeborough by Ira Ban- 
field, son of Tobias. He has been a member of the legislature 
and treasurer of the Wolfeborough Savings Bank. 

Abel Haley, at the age of two years, removed with his parents 
from Rochester to Tuftonborough in 181 o. where he eventually 
became a leading citizen, holding the various offices that his 
townsmen could bestow upon him. At the establishment of the 
Lake Bank, he removed to Wolfeborough and was its cashier. 
His son, Abel S., has a successful business in Faneuil Hall mar- 
ket, Boston ; Levi T., another son, resides in Wolfeborough, and 
has been engaged in various kinds of business. He has been a 
senator, and was sheriff of Carroll County when the Brookfield 
murderer, Joseph W. Buzzell, was executed. 

Joseph Clark came from Greenland in 18 17 and passed the re- 
mainder of his life here. He was a cabinet-maker. Of his fam- 
ily of eight children, two resided in town, Mary (Mrs. Samuel 
Avery), and Enoch, who followed the avocation of his father. 
Enoch had ten children ; his son, GreenHef B., occupies the home- 
stead. He has had an active hand in the establishment of manu- 
facturing interests in Wolfeboro and is a large farmer and real 
estate owner. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Inventory of 1788 — A Good Growth indicated — Annual 
Town of 1788 — Action looking toward the Building 
OF A Meeting-house. 

IN this chapter will be given in substance an inventory of Wolfe- 
borough for the year 1788, five years after the close of the 
war, when the town had begun to recuperate a little. This, com- 
bined with some knowledge obtained from other sources and con- 
sistent conjecture, gives quite a clear view of the pecuniary con- 
dition of the town and its ability to accomplish certain public 
measures which its inhabitants were contemplating ; viz., the 
building of a meeting-house and the settling of a minister. 

Col. Henry Rust was assessed for forty-five acres of improved 
and five hundred and fifty-five of unimproved, or wild land, show- 
ing that he had as yet made no division of his six hundred acre 
lot, although the sons, Henry and Richard, had fainilies, and 
owned neat stock, including working cattle. The presumption is 
that they had been permitted to occupy and cultivate portions of 
the Rust lot, to which the Colonel still claimed ownership. The 
father and two sons possessed seven cows, eight oxen, one horse, 
and seven young cattle. 

James Connor had twenty-four acres of improved and upwards 
of two hundred of wild land. This included the ridge on which 
are situated the Jerome and Tetherly farms. He afterwards came 
into possession of the lot which has since been known as the Ban- 
field farm. He had two cows, two oxen, one horse, and ten young 
cattle. It is evident that he had converted the money which he 
had brought into the town into land and stock. 

The lots of Jacob Smith, William Lucas, and James Lucas, 

Jr., were situated on the main road, south of the corner where 
342 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



243 



the mill road joins it. Combined, they possessed six acres of 
tillag-e, twenty-two of mowing, twelve of pasturing, and three hun- 
dred and sixty of wild land. They had three cows, two horses, 
and eleven young cattle. 

The estate of Benjamin Evans, deceased, had two acres of 
tillage, sixteen of mowing, sixteen of pasturing, and eighty-six 
of wild land. On the farm were two cows, one horse, and nine 
young cattle. 

Moses V^arney had four acres of improved and two hundred 
and eight of wild land, two cows, one horse, and two young 
cattle. Mr. Varney at first purchased the Sewall lot of twelve 
acres heretofore noticed. He subsequently obtained possession of 
two hundred acres of wild land. This was probably situated east 
of the main road, opposite the Lucas and Tibbetts farms. At this 
time his son Joseph was seventeen years old. Soon after reaching 
his majority he was in possession of eighty acres of land that con- 
stituted a part of his home farm. It is quite probable that this 
land was a part of his father's purchase, and that another portion 
eventually became the Bassett farm, since the relations between 
the Bassetts and Varneys were very close. 

Matthew S. Parker was assessed for five acres of mowing, two 
of pastunng, and three hundred of wild land, also the "Mills," 
where, having previously sold his "Neck" farm to Joseph Ed- 
monds, he had removed. It will be observed that he had no tillage 
and only a few acres of grass-kand. This possibly might have 
been situated near the "Carrying Place." An incident, preserved 
in writing, indicates that he cleared the meadow there, and it is 
not altogether improbable that he might have reserved it when 
the "Neck" farm was sold. The wild land, from which he had 
already sold two hundred acres to Jonathan Dame, of Rochester, 
and the lot for the burying-yard, was no doubt obtained of George 
Meserve. The "Mills" were no doubt still the property of Sewall 
& Cutter, Parker being assessed as the occupant of the premises. 

Lieut. Ebenezer Home and his sons reported a few acres in- 



2AA HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

crease on the area of their land when purchased of John Flagg. 
This was probably the result of more accurate measurement. 
They reported four acres of tillage, forty of mowing, sixty of 
pasturing; and four hundred and sixty of wild land, eight cows, 
two oxen, and three horses. 

Andrew Wiggin had two acres of tillage, ten of mowing, six of 
pasturing, and one hundred and thirty-two of wild land, one cow, 
two oxen, and five young cattle. 

John FuUerton had one acre of tillage, six of mowing, six of 
pasturmg, and eighty-seven of wild land, two cows, one horse, and 
two young cattle. The inventories of his brother, James Fuller- 
ton, and Jeremiah Gould, his neighbors, were quite similar, both 
in the amount of land and the value of stock. 

Benjamin Blake had three acres of tillage, eleven of mowing, 
ten of pasturing, and eighty of wild land, two cows, one horse, 
and six young cattle. 

Jonathan Chase then occupied the lot which was soon after 
sold to Jacob Folsom. He had one acre of tillage, five of mowing, 
two of pasturing, and seventy-four of wild land. 

Ebenezer Meader had two acres of tillage, ten of mowing, eight 
of pasturing, and eighty-one of wild land, two cows, and two 
oxen. Enoch Thomas had an inventory of about the same value. 

Joseph Lary had two acres of tillage, twelve of mowing, twelve 
of pasturing, and nearly two hundred of wild land. It is evident 
that his original settler's lot, which, according to tradition, was oc- 
cupied by John Sinkler for a time, had again come into his pos- 
session, as subsequently he deeded it to Daniel Wiggin. He had 
one cow, one horse, and two young cattle. His son, Joseph Lary, 
Jr., had eighty-four acres of wild land, one cow, and three young 
cattle. 

Samuel Tibbetts had two acres of tillage, nine of mowing, three 
of pasturing, and two hundred and forty of wild land, one cow, 
two oxen, and four young cattle. 

William Rogers had two acres of tillage, ten of mowing, six of 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



245 



pasturing, and eighty of wild land, four cows, four oxen, one 
horse, and one two-year-old. It will be observed that he had 
more than the usual proportion of oxen. From this it may be in- 
ferred that he was interested in the lumber business at the "Mills." 
His father. Charles Rogers, was the owner of a saw-mill at Merry 
Meeting, and his son, Nathaniel, very soon after reaching man- 
hood, was a manufacturer of lumber at the "Mills." The three 
generations having similar inclinations and opportunities, would 
very likely follow similar pursuits. 

Reuben Libbey had two acres of tillage, twenty of mowing, 
sixteen of pasturing, and five hundred of wild land, three cows, two 
horses, and ten young cattle, indicating a high degree of thrifti- 
ness at that time, the result of industry and close attention to his 
private concerns. In subsequent years he was much engaged in 
public afYairs. He sold his retired "Neck" farm, and became quite 
active in business matters. The change did not promote his per- 
sonal interests. 

Joseph Edmonds had three acres of tillage, twenty of mowing, 
twenty of pasturing, and four hundred of wild land, three cows, 
four oxen, one horse, and one two-year-old. This was the Wolfe- 
borough Neck lot which he had recently purchased of Matthew 
S. Parker. He was a man of means when he came to the town. 

Jonathan Hersey had two acres of tillage, ten of mowing, eight 
of pasturmg, and eighty of wild land, two cows, two oxen, one 
horse, and five young cattle. He occupied his settler's lot. 

Thomas Piper had one acre of tillage, one of mowing, four of 
pasturing, and five hundred and twenty-four of wild land, also 
one cow. He was living on the fifty acre lot which is now the 
farm of Mrs. B. F. Mason. The most of the land for which he 
was assessed was probably simply bargained for. His son John 
occupied another fifty acre lot, and had two domestic animals. 
His son David had purchased fifty acres of land from the Pierce 
Great Lot, and had one acre in tillage and two in mowing, and 
one cow. 



246 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Oliver Peavey had eight acres in mowing and two in wild 
land. The mowing was probably natural meadow. His lot was 
the present farm of George E. Mason. 

John Lucas had one acre of tillage, one of mowing, and forty- 
eight of wild land, one cow, and two young cattle. His farm was 
the one now occupied by Henry J. Coleman. 

William Fullerton had one acre of tillage, four of mowing, two 
of pasturing, and forty-three of wild land, one cow, and four young 
cattle. He occupied the most northwesterly of the fifty acre lots, 
adjoining Tuftonborough. 

Lemuel Clifford had one acre of tillage, four of mowing, and 
forty-eight of wild land, one cow, and one yearling. His farm 
was the one lately occupied by Nathan Shackley. 

Josiah Leavitt had nine hundred acres of wild land and two 
yearlings. He probably came from Stratham, and was at this 
time living on Wolfeborough Neck. Where were located the nine 
hundred acres of wild land for which he was assessed, is not now 
known. It probably consisted of portions of proprietors' lots. 
There was at this period prevailing in Wolfeborough quite a 
mania for speculating in lands, persons bargaining for lots and 
holding them for an advance in price before paying for them. Mr. 
Leavitt did not remain in Wolfeborough a long time, but re- 
moved to Tuftonborough, residing at one period on what has since 
been known as the George Fox farm. Nov. 6, 1796, his daugh- 
ter Polly was married to Ichabod Libbey, by Rev. Mr. Allen, and 
was the mother of Josiah Leavitt Libbey, the father of Mrs. Otis 
Evans. 

John Furbur had his farm out of the Thomas Wentworth lot. 
He had two acres of tillage, ten of mowing, twelve of pasturing, 
and one hundred of wild land, five cows, two oxen, and one 
yearling. 

Joseph Leavitt had one acre of tillage, ten of mowing, twelve 
of pasturing, and seventy-seven of wild land, two cows, one horse, 
and four young cattle. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 247 

On the Cabbott-Wentworth Farm were ten acres of tillage, one 
hundred and twenty acres of mowing, one hundred and thirty 
acres of pasturing, and two thousand six hundred and fifty acres 
of wild land, twenty-two cows, ten oxen two horses, and forty- 
two young cattle. 

Colonel William Cotton had two acres of tillage, sixteen of 
mowing, twelve of pasturing, and one hundred and fifty of wild 
land, three cows, two oxen, and six young cattle. 

Samuel Hide had four acres of mowing, ten of pasturing, and 
eighty-eight of wild land, two cows, one horse, and one two-year- 
old. 

Aaron Frost had two and a half acres of tillage, five of mow- 
ing, eight of pasturing, and eighty-four of wild land, two cows, 
two oxen, one horse, and one two-year-old. 

Joshua Haines had two acres of tillage, twelve of mowing, eight 
of pasturing, and one hundred and twenty of wild land, one cow, 
one horse, and three young cattle. His son Jacob had fifty acres 
of wild land, two cows, and two young cattle, and his son Joseph, 
fifty acres of wild land, one cow, and two young cattle. 

Perry Hardy, located in the Lords' Quarter, had one and a 
half acres of tillage, five of mowing, and forty-four of wild land, 
two cows, two oxen, and one horse. 

Joseph Keniston had one acre of tillage, five of mowing, four 
of pasturing, and forty of wild land, one cow, and two young 
cattle. 

John Swazey, on the north side of the town, had one acre of 
tillage, eight of mowing, four of pasturing, and eighty-four of 
wild land, two cows, two oxen, and one horse. 

Samuel Tibbetts. Jr. had one hundred acres of wild land, two 
cows, two oxen. John Shorey had two cows, one horse, and two 
young cattle. John Warren, George Warren, and James Harden 
had each fifty acres of wild land, and Marden had a cow. 

John Martin was assessed for three and a half acres of tillage, 
twenty of mowing, forty of pasturing, and thirty-seven of wild 



248 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



land, six cows, two oxen, one horse, and five young cattle on the 
east side of the town. He was also assessed for one hundred 
acres on the west side, which he intended for his son Isaac. It 
was the Banfield place already referred to. Young Martin de- 
cided not to occupy it on account of its heavy growth. 

William Triggs had one acre of tillage, six of mowing, four of 
pasturing, and sixty-seven of wild land, two cows, two oxen, one 
horse, and one three-year-old. 

The names of the persons assessed not already mentioned were 
William Rust, Jesse Whitton, Chase Wiggin, Paul Blazo, Eben 
Home, Jr., Stephen Home, Isaiah Home, John Home, Ben- 
jamin Home, Benjamin Wiggin, James Wiggin, Paul Wiggin, 
Levi Tebbetts, Nehemiah Lucas, Eben Tebbetts, Jonathan Ed- 
monds, John Lary, Deering Stoddard, Nathaniel Brown, William 
Cotton, Jr., John P. Cotton, Edmund Tebbetts, Thomas Cotton, 
John Cotton, Joseph Cotton. These were mostly young men, 
with little or no inventory. 

The sum of the inventory was eighty-four polls, eighty-two 
acres of tillage, five hundred and fourteen of mowing, and five 
hundred and thirty-itwo of pasturing land, one hundred and 
twenty-nine cows, sixty-seven oxen, thirty-four horses, and one 
hundred and ninety-two young cattle. At first it may seem 
strange that while the town had less than one hundred acres in 
tillage, it had more than one thousand in grass. It is, however, 
to be considered that it possessed considerable tracts of natural 
grass, and that forests were more easily converted into grass-lands 
by burning than into tillage by ploughing. 

Notwithstanding the poverty of the inhabitants of the town and 
the pressure of corporate and individual debts, the auguries of 
the inventory were encouraging, indicating speedy and permanent 
prosperity. Almost the entire population consisted of the earlier 
settlers and their descendants, there being less than a dozen per- 
sons who paid a poll tax only. Nearly every young man was as- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 249 

sessed for a few acres of unimproved land or one or more young 
cattle. Such careful forethought assured ultimate success. 

Comparing the foregoing inventory with that of 1782, an in- 
crease of twenty-six polls, three hundred and ninety acres of im- 
proved land, twenty-nine cows, seven oxen, two horses, and one 
hundred and seventeen young cattle is shown. The difference in 
the increase of the several items is quite suggestive. That of the 
number of polls and acres of improved land may be regarded as 
normal ; that of the number of oxen indicates that they were not 
yet much used in agricultural pursuits, the axe still taking 
precedence of the plow. The small change in the number of 
horses, an increase of only two, shows that they were accounted 
of comparatively little practical value, not being worked or much 
used except for horse-back riding on short journeys. There 
might have been a few raised on the Wentworth Farm, but with 
that exception, probably not a colt was foaled in the town of 
Wolfeborough during the first twenty years of its corporate exist- 
ence. The marked increase of young cattle indicates that the 
breeding of neat stock was the leading industry. It continued to 
be such until near the close of the eighteenth century, when other 
domestic animals began to receive greater attention from the 
farmer. For a few years such was the interest in raising cattle 
and such the necessity of promoting their increase, that veal, al- 
though not legally, was prudentially interdicted as an article of 
food. 

According to the foregoing inventory there were in Wolfe- 
borough eleven hundred and twenty-eight acres of improved and 
ten thousand three hundred and sixty-seven of wild land owned 
by residents of Wolfeborough. 

Here follows a list of the non-residents' wild land, arranged 
according to location: — 



250 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



In the Masonian Proprietors' Division. 



Lots 


Owners 


2 


M. H. Wentworth 


3 


Richard Wibird 


5 


Mason & TomUnson 


7 


John Rindge 


8 


Blanchard & Meserve 


lO 


Theodore Atkinson 


12 


George Jaffrey 


13 


Solley & March 


14 


John Moffatt 


i6 


Jotham Odiorne 


17 


John Wentworth 



Amount of Land 


200 acres 


300 




300 




300 




300 




300 




300 




200 




300 




300 




300 




Total 3100 





In Wolfeborough Addition. 



Lots 


Owners 


I 


Jonathan Warner 


2 


James Stoodley 


3 


Hall Jackson 


4 


George Meserve 


4 


Richard Tucker 


5 


Stephen Batson 



Amount of Land 


400; 


acres 


400 




400 




200 




100 




500 




^otal 2000 





HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 25 1 

In Wolfeborough Town Proprietors' Division. 



Lots 


Owners 


9 


George Meserve 


10 


George Meserve 


21 


George Meserve 


8 


Daniel Rindge 


11 


Doct. Brackett 


12 


Thomas Wentworth 


13 


Capt. George King 


16 


David Sewall 


17 


William Torrey 


19 


Nathaniel P. Sargent 


19 


David Copp 



Amount of Land 


342 acres 


448 




350 




448 




100 




400 




430 




188 




327 




460 




255 




Total 3748 




8848 




10367 




19215 




1 128 




20343 





Sum of totals of non-residents' wild land 

Resident proprietors' wild land 

Total of wild land 

Improved land 

Acres of land inventoried 



Here is inserted a copy of the doings of the annual town meet- 
ing as taken by the clerk for the record book without revision. 
It is interesting, as showing the manner of doing town business a 
hundred years ago. It also treats of some matters relating to the 
meeting-house, which will be the subject of the next chapter. It 
is the last annual town-meeting that the efficient town officer, 
Matthew S. Parker, ever attended, he dying before the close of the 
year. 

"Minutes taken at the Annual Town Meeting held at William 
Rogers in the Town Wolfboro' March the 29 1788 



252 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



1 Voted Joshua Haines Moderator 

2 Voted Ebenezer Meder James Lucas Jr J^ Select Men 
Matthew S. Parker 

3 Voted Matthew S. Parker Town Clerk 

4 Voted Thomas Piper Constable 

5 Voted Isaiah Home Andrew Wiggin ^ 
Richard Rust John Sweasey > 

& Col. William Cotton > "'S"^ ^^^^ 

6 Voted William Fullerton & Col. William Cotton Tything Men 

7 Voted that the Surveyors of the High Ways be Fence Viewers 

8 Voted John Home John Lucas Aaron Frost Hog Reeves 

9 Voted Moses Varney Culler of Lumber 

10 Voted Ebenezer Meder Sealer Weight & Measures 

11 Voted Samuel Tibbitts Pound & Deer Keeper 

12 Voted Joseph Edmund Sealer of Leather 

13 Voted Isaiah Home & Col. Cotton Auditors 

14 The Collectors ofiice being Set up to Vendue for the lowest 
Bidder, The same being done it was accordingly struck off to 
John Home at two & an half Per Cent 

15 Voted That the Sum of Sixty pounds be raised & laid out on 
the High Ways agreeable to the Warrants from Select Men 

16 Voted That the Respective Surveyors be & are hereby im- 
powered at any Time in the Winter Season, when ever the 
high ways are rendered very dilBcult or impassable for Teams, 
by Blocking Snows to Call upon the Severall Persons Be- 
longing to their respective Districts for Assistance of Men & 
Oxen to Break open & make the same passable for Teams, & 
in Case any Person or Persons refuse to turn out himself & 
Oxen that they be & hereby are made liable to a fine of Six 
shillings for himself & Six shillings for each Yoke of Cattle 
of his Customary working Cattle, the same to be taken by 
the Surveyors from each Person so refusing by Destraint as in 
Collecting other Taxes 

17 It was put to Vote whether the Pews in the Meeting House 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



253 



be exposed to Sale towards compleating the same, which was 
determined by Poll in favour of the Sale & that Col. William 
Cotton Mr. Andrew Wiggin & Ebenezer Meader be a Com- 
mittee to Draw a Plan of the Pews to be in the Meeting House 
& Expose the same for Sale at a Public Vendue, & that the 
time of Sale & Conditions thereof & the appropriating of the 
Money Arising from the Sale towards finishing the Meeting 
House be left in the Power of said Committee 

18 Voted That Mr. Samuel Tibbitts be allowed live shillings Per 
Day while Frammg the Meeting House 

19 Voted That Mr. Benjamin Durgin be abated his Taxes which 
remain unpaid at this Time & that he be not tax'd for the future 

20 A President being Voted for there appeared Twenty Seven for 
John Sullivan Esquire & Five for John Langdon 

21 Senators being Voted for there appeared to be Nineteen for 
Daniel Bede Esquire & Nineteen for Col. Thomas Waldron 

22 A County Recorder being Voted for there appeared to be 
Twenty three for John B. Hanson 

23 A County Treasurer being Poll'd for there appeared to be 
Twenty for John B. Hanson 

24 That this Meeting be adjourned to Thursday the third Day 
of April next at 10 Oclock A. M. at this place & that the 
Select Men are hereby directed to Call upon all persons that 
have accounts open with the Town to Close the same im- 
mediately that the said Accounts may be laid before the Audi- 
tors at the adjournment. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The Meeting-house — Pledged Donations from Proprietors 
— Delays — Exchange of Lots — Labor Tax — New Pro- 
posal OF Proprietors — Purchase of Pews and Sale of 
Lumber — The Builders — Time required to build 
— The Cost — House described — Change to Town- 
house — Part of Lot sold — The Burying-yard — Fires. 

THE settlers of New England were a religious people. In new- 
ly settled towns the grantors of lands usually made some pro- 
vision for building meeting-houses and settling ministers. One 
of the conditions imposed on the grantees of Wolfeborough was 
that in eight years after peace should be established between the 
English and the French and Indians a convenient meeting-house 
should be built in the town, unless other wars should arise. 

It proved, however, very difficult to obtain settlers for Wolfe- 
borough, and no permanent homes were established in the town 
until nine years after the date of the grant. Seven years after 
arose the long-protracted and exhausting conflict between Great 
Britain and the American colonies, during which struggle Wolfe- 
borough became partially depopulated and greatly impoverished. 

In November, 1773, when Governor Wentworth was establish- 
ing his country home in the town, and appearances indicated 
speedy and permanent prosperity, the grantors voted a donation 
of thirty pounds, lawful money, towards building a meeting- 
house forty feet long and thirty feet wide, and appointed Col. 
Henry Rust and Dr. A. R. Cutter a committee to attend to the 
matter. 

At the annual town meeting held March 30, 1774, the subject 
254 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 255 

of building a meeting-house was brought forward for considera- 
tion, but the town declined to vote any money for the purpose, a 
wise conclusion, as it was in no condition to engage in an under- 
taking requiring so great an outlay ; nor would it be strange if 
even then some of the more sagacious of the citizens could hear 
the mutterings of the war-clouds so soon to burst upon them. 
During the twelve succeeding years neither the Masonian nor 
the town proprietors took any further action in relation to the 
matter. 

At the annual town meeting held March 13, 1786, the question 
again came up, and after deliberation, Cols. Henry Rust and 
William Cotton were appointed a committee to confer with the 
Masonian proprietors and endeavor to obtain a more desirable 
lot of land for "public uses" than the one which had been selected 
for that purpose. The committee was successful in its mission, 
and through the generosity of Mr. Cabbott the proprietor of the 
VVentworth Farm, an exchange of land was effected and a de- 
sirable location obtained in proprietary lot numbered eighteen, 
which was situated on the northerly side of the highway leading 
from the "Mills" to the College Road and originally drawn by 
Daniel Rindge. At the same meeting it was also voted that if 
the committee were successful in securing a proper lot for public 
uses, a tax of one hundred dollars, to be worked out under the 
direction of the highway surveyors, should be assesed on the in- 
habitants of the town "for the purpose of clearing a place and 
building a meeting-house." This tax was assessed on seventy dif- 
ferent persons and properties, and varied, with the exception of 
that on the Cabbott-Wentworth Farm, which was eighty-four and 
a quarter days, from one and three-fourths to sixteen days. It was 
worked out in the year 1787. 

One of the duties of Rust and Cotton, the committee chosen 
in 1786, was to confer with the Masonian proprietors and ascer- 
tain to what extent they were willing to aid in building a meeting- 
house and settling a minister. 



256 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



It has already been noticed that in 1773 they had offered to 
give for these purposes thirty pounds in cash. On account of the 
prevaiHng" scarcity of money, even among the more wealthy, how- 
ever, they now wished to donate, instead of the cash, the following 
articles : twenty-five thousand four-penny nails, fifteen thousand 
six-penny nails, ten thousand ten-penny nails, three thousand 
twenty-penny nails, thirty gallons of West India rum, one quintal 
of fish, fifty pounds of sugar, fifty pounds of coffee, eight pounds 
of tea, and two hundred feet of glass, eight by ten. On the ninth 
day of November, 1786, the town voted to accept the offer made 
by the proprietors as their proportion in full for building a meet- 
ing-house, and appointed Col. Henry Rust, Matthew S. Parker, 
and Ebenezer Meder a committee to receive, transport, and store 
the articles donated until the town should otherwise direct. 

Joshua Haines, Samuel Tibbetts, Matthew S. Parker, William 
Cotton, and Andrew Wiggin were appointed a committee to 
draw a plan for the meeting-house, and contract for lumber for 
frame and covering for the same. It was also voted to clear four 
acres of the lot on which it was proposed to set it. 

At the annual town meeting of March, 1787, a plan of a meet- 
ing-house was presented for examination, but was not accepted , 
and Matthew S. Parker was instructed to draw one like 
the meeting-house in Middleton "with such amendments as 
he shall think for the best." The plan drawn by Parker was for 
a two-story building fifty-two feet long and forty-two feet wide, 
with a porch twelve feet long and ten feet wide. 

Notwithstanding the votes passed by the citizens of Wolfe- 
borough in 1786 and the early part of 1787, the work requisite for 
building the meeting-house had progressed very slowly, and at 
the close of 1787 this only had been done — the clearing of a por- 
tion of the lot and the erecting of the frame. One reason of the 
delay is apparent from the following letter addressed to one of 
the Masonian proprietors : — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 257 

/ 
"Wolfb/6roug-h, February, 1788. 

Sir, — As the time draws near for our annual town meeting, 
when the business respecting the meeting-house will come on the 
carpet, and but a small part of those articles which were voted by 
the proprietors for the encouragement thereof have been received, 
we have thought proper to write you respecting the matter, and 
desire that such preparation may be made for procuring the re- 
mainder, that we, as a committee, may have it in our power to 
lay before the town at their next meeting the situation thereof, 
which we sincerely wish may be on the encouraging hand, other- 
wise, we are apprehensive of its being the cause of stagnating 
our plan for a meeting-house greatly, especially as we have now 
got the frame raised and were in great expection of having the 
nails ready for boarding it early in the spring or summer en- 
suing. We shall be exceeding obliged if you will take the trouble 
of starting the affair from its present stagnated situation ; other- 
wise, gratify us with a line respecting the matter prior to our 
annual meeting, which will come on the last Tuesday in March 
next, that we may give an account of our stewardship. Your 
compliance will much oblige 

Your most obedient Humble Servants, 

Matthew S. Parker, 
For the meeting-house committee." 



At the annual town meeting held in March, 1788, Col. William 
Cotton, Andrew Wiggin, and Ebenezer Meder were chosen a 
meeting-house committee, and the town voted to sell the pews 
of the still unconstructed building to provide means for finishing 
it. Subsequently the following notice was posted: — 



258 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



"PuiiLiCK Auction 



On Thursday, the 8th day of May next, will be sold at publick 
vendue to the highest bidder at the dwelling-house of Matthew 
S. Parker in Wolfborough, the pews to be built in the meeting- 
house as drawn and numbered in a plan which will be seen at the 
above time and place, as well as the conditions of said sale. 

Also at the same time and place will be exposed to sale to the 
lowest bidder the lumber to be procured for completing the out- 
side of said meeting-house ; viz, eight thousand merchantable 
pine boards, four thousand good laying clapboards, and twenty 
thousand good laying shingles, all to be delivered at the meeting- 
house on or before the first day of June next. 

Wolfborough, April 24, 1788. 
(Signed by the committee)" 



It may be interesting to know that the important business 
which followed this announcement was transacted at the mill 
house, then the residence of Matthew S. Parker, the cellar of 
which mav still be seen near the garden of R. M. Flanders in 
Wolfeborough Falls. William Cotton was appointed vendue- 
master and Matthew S. Parker, clerk of the sale. The following 
were some of the conditions : Any dispute on any matter was to 
be decided by a major vote of the company present ; no bid of less 
than one shilling was to be accepted ; all purchasers of pews were 
required to give to the meeting-house committee an obligation 
to pay the amount of their purchases either in neat stock or pro- 
duce, at their own option, the stock to be delivered by the first 
day of the following October, and the produce by the first day of 
December. The several purchasers gave notes to the committee 
for the amount of their purchases, which were subsequently can- 
celed by various methods of payment. 

Here follows an account of the sale : — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



259 



Number 


Purchaser 


Price 


Manner of paying 


of pew 








29 


Isaiah Home 


i6:i5 


neat stock 


31 


Thomas Piper 


7: 3 


labor, lumber— furnished 
(pillars) 


21 


Reuben Libbey 


6: 3 


labor 


22 


Andrew Wiggin 


4: 3 


labor in business 


30 


John Martin 


6: 5 


cash, lumber, produce, 
nails, (Merrill) 


32 


WilHam Triggs 


5:11 


lumber, Libbey 


23 


Levi Tibbetts 


4: 5 


Libbey 


26 


James Connor 


4: 6 


labor, lumber 


25 


Andrew Lucas 


4: 4 


labor, Merrill 


27 


Jonathan Hersey 


5: 


lumber, labor 


28 


WilHam Fullerton 


4: 4 




I 


Captain Joseph Lary 


9: 


Libbey 


20 


Col. Henry Rust 


9: I 


labor, lumber, hauling 
stores 


6 


James Connor 


8: 3 


labor, lumber, Libbey, 
(Rogers, Merrill) 


15 


Matthew S. Parker. 


5: 4 


lumber 


16 


James Lucas, Jr. 


5:13 


labor, Merrill 


5 


William Lucas 


6: 2 


labor, Libbey 


2 


Jonathan Hersey 


8:10 


labor, lumber 


II 


William Rogers 


7: I 


sundries, supplies, Mer- 
rill 
labor, cash 


19 


Samuel Tibbitts, Sen. 


7:10 


3 


William Cotton 


6 


labor in business 


13 


David Piper 


5: I 


labor, lumber 


18 


Henry Rust, Jr. 


5: 5 




8 


John Martin 


4:11 


lumber, produce 


9 


John Swazey 


5- 9 


lumber, Libbey 


12 


Benjamin Home 


5: 4 


labor, Libbey 


17 


Jonathan Hersey 


7:10 


labor, lumber 


14 


James Fullerton 


5:" 


labor, lumber, Libbey 


4 


John Fullerton 


4: 6 


labor, lumber, Libbey 


7 


Joshua Haines 


5: 2 


neat stock, cash 


24 


Jacob Smith 


4: 3 


labor, Moses Varney, 
Merrill 



26o ■ HISTORY OP WOLFEBOROUOH. 

At this Stage of the proceedings William Rogers proposed to 
take the job of finishing the meeting-house by contract, and, 
agreeable to a vote of a majority of the company present, the 
matter of contracting for the lumber was postponed. The bar- 
gam between Rogers and the meeting-house committee failed 
of consummation, however, and another meeting was held at 
Parker's on the 26th of May, to contract for the lumber neces- 
sary to finish the outside of the meeting-house. The amount re- 
quired, it was estimated, would be ten thousand feet of pine 
boards, four and a half thousand clapboards, and twenty-two 
thousand shmgles, to be delivered at the meeting-house lot by 
the middle of the following June. The lumber was divided into 
small lots so that the purchasers of pews could pay for them in 
that commodity if they so chose. 

On the sixth day of July the committee contracted with Reuben 
Libbey to do the work necessary to complete the outside of the 
meeting-house. Here follows a portion of the contract, which 
gives some idea as to the structure of the building. 

Libbey agrees "to underpin the frame of the meeting-house 
outside and inside with good suitable rocks, the outside to be 
done in as strong and decent a manner as the rocks will admit 
of ; to build and completely finish the outside of a porch over the 
front door twelve feet long and ten feet wide of the same height 
as the house with a hip roof, and to have three doors, one on each 
side and one in the end directly opposite the front door of the 
house ; also to put in the window frames and sashes and properly 
glaze the whole house, being sixteen windows in the lower story 
and sixteen in the upper story of twenty-four squares of eight 
by ten glass and one in the pulpit of the same size and two in 
each gable end and one in the porch of twelve squares each ; to 
finish the whole outside of the house as to boarding, clap-boarding 
and shingling, with suitable weather-boards and cant-boards over 
the lower windows and around the sills and a proper hat-case over 
the front door in the porch ; the other doors to have only proper 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 261 

cant-boards, the front door in the j)orch and the two end doors 
in the house to be double, four-paneled, two-leaved, the two side 
doors in the porch to be plain double doors well-nailed, the whole 
to be hung with substantial iron hinges." 

The committee were to pay Libbey eighty-one pounds and 
twelve shillings in neat stock and produce as expressed in the 
securities given by the purchasers of the pews, which securities 
he agreed to take. They also agreed to furnish all the material 
necessary to complete the job, the lumber to be delivered at the 
meeting-house, and the other material at Ebenezer Meder's house 
by the twentieth day of the coming August. Twenty-five lots of 
lumber were delivered at about the following prices : boards, three 
and a half dollars a thousand feet ; clap-boards, six dollars ; 
shingles, one and a half dollars. All the lumber was to be of first 
quality pine. Of course the clapboards and shingles were rived 
and shaved. The contract required the completion of the job by 
the first day of December. 

July 16, 1789, the places for twenty-three pews in the gallery 
were sold at prices averaging one and a half pounds. Reuben 
Libbey purchased nine ; Ebenezer Meder, Thomas Piper, An- 
drew Lucas, Samuel Tibbetts, and John Home, two each ; John 
Shorey, David Piper, John Piper, and Andrew Wiggin, one each. 

During 1789 and most of 1790 very little was done towards 
completing the meeting-house. Two town-meetings were held in 
it, however. 

September i, 1790, the meeting-house committee made a con- 
tract with Jesse and Eliphalet Merrill, of Stratham, to proceed 
with the finishing of the house. The Merrills agreed to lay a 
planed floor over the whole house, to case the windows in the 
lower story, and to finish thirty-two pews. The committee was 
to furnish all the material for the job delivered on the spot, and 
pay the Merrills thirty-four pounds in neat stock. As they laid 
the under floor and set the six pillars supporting the gallery, the 
whole bill amounted to thirty-five pounds and seven shillings. 



262 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The job was completed by the middle of October, and they were 
paid in some manner by fourteen individuals. 

At the annual meeting of 1791, it was voted that Stephen W. 
Home lay out any balance due on the labor-tax on the meeting- 
house, and if any further outlay should be needed to secure the 
building from accident, that he be authorized to call on the town 
for assistance. 

At the annual town-meeting, which had been adjourned to 
the second Tuesday in June, the accounts of the meeting-house 
committee were read and approved, and the committee thanked 
for their faithful services. It seems to have been expected that 
from this time the selectmen of the town should have general 
oversight of the meeting-house business. 

It was voted that the "privileges" for four pews on the ground 
floor of the house be sold at public auction, and that the money 
resulting from such a sale be used in "aiding to build a pulpit" 
as soon as suitable lumber for constructing one could be pro- 
cured, also, that the selectmen should assess a tax for linishing 
the pulpit. 

The "privileges" for pews were sold June thirtieth, James Wig- 
gin purchasing two and Reuben Libbey and Samuel Tibbetts, 
Jr. one each. The proceeds of the sale amounted to thirteen and 
a half pounds. The purchasers were required to seasonably con- 
struct the pews. George Freeze, an out-of-town man, built the 
pulpit, receiving for his labor nine pounds, eight shillings and 
his board. At a town-meeting held September 5, 1791, it was 
voted to build a canopy over the pulpit "as soon as may be," 
and that a sum sufficient for the purpose be raised on poll and 
estate. 

The gallery floor was laid and the meeting-house nearly com- 
pleted in the autumn of 1792, six years from the time the plan 
for building it was first projected. It was framed by Samuel 
Tibbetts, the outside finished by Reuben Libbey, and the inside 
by Jesse and Eliphalet Merrill and others. It cost, chiefly in 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 263 

labor, material, and produce, probably more ihan twelve hundred 
dollars. 

The interior of the meeting-house was constructed in the fol- 
lowing manner. From the porch, situated on the south side of 
the main building, a wide door opened into a broad aisle that 
extended to the pulpit opposite. At the west end of the meeting- 
house were double doors that opened directly into it. Around 
the walls, except where were the entrances and the pulpit, was 
a row of pews raised eight inches from the fioor. Inside these 
was an aisle three and a half feet wide, which separated the wall- 
pews from the pit-pews on the other side. The latter were raised 
four inches from the floor. With two exceptions (for these a de- 
duction in price was made) each wall-pew had the whole or part of 
a window within its limits. The pews were square with seats on 
three sides. They were finished with top-rails and short balusters, 
and closed with doors. The pulpit, over which a canopy was sus- 
pended, had an elevation of eight feet from the ground floor, and 
was ascended by a banistered stairway. In front of it was the 
deacon's seat. 

A stairway led from the porch to the galleries. On the outer 
side of these, next to the walls of the house, were placed twenty- 
four pews. On the incline from these to the inner edge of the 
galleries were seats — free, except those directly in front of the 
pulpit, which were intended for the orchestra. The walls of 
the house were plastered and whitewashed. No arrangements 
were made for heating. 

No further work was done in the meeting-house until 1802, 
when one hundred and fifty dollars were expended under the 
supervision of Selectman Richard Rust. He purchased ten 
thousand feet of lumber for fifty-one dollars, twenty thousand 
nails for twenty-seven dollars, paid Deering Stoddard for wages 
and board for thirty-nine days forty dollars, John Lucas, Jr. for 
twenty-eight days work twenty-three dollars, for rum three 
dollars, and for incidentals one dollar, reserving for the superin- 



264 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



tending of the job five dollars. This did not entirely finish the 
meeting-house, but the town declined to furnish any more money 
for the purpose. It was probably never completely finished or 
formally dedicated, although from the time of Mr. Allen's ordi- 
nation occupied many years for religious worship. In 18 19 Paul 
H. Varney repaired it at a cost of about eighty dollars. Some 
absolutely unavoidable repairs were made from time to time 
until 1840, when it was reduced in height, its pulpit and pews 
taken out, and the building removed to another part of the 
lot and converted into a town-house. 

When the meeting-house was first built, the ten acre lot on 
which it was set adjoined the highway that ran near the shore 
of Lake Wentworth. Afterwards a road was opened from Center 
Wolfeborough, which divided the lot into two parts, about three- 
fourths of it falling on the south side of the new highway. This 
portion was subsequently sold by the town. On that part of 
the lot remaining on the north side of the road, the town-house 
was set. In 1875 it was repaired somewhat, and used for town 
meetings until 1890, when, the Brewster Memorial Hall having 
been erected, the people of Wolfeborough bade a final farewell 
to the old town-house where many a fierce political battle had 
been fought and many an aged citizen fallen a victim to the in- 
clemencies of March. In 1890 it was sold for sixty-two and a 
half dollars to Greenlief B. Clark, who removed the material, and 
of it constructed a stable, which stands in the rear of the shoe- 
factories, and is used as a shelter for the teams of the operatives. 

In 1806 the town voted that one acre of the lot for "public 
uses" be set apart for a burying-ground, and in this are interred 
the remains of the town minister and his wife and those of 
probably one or two scores of other persons. It is still fenced, 
but seldom used for interment. On the remaining acre is a 
grove of thrifty pines. 

Soon after the meeting-house was built, it was greatly en- 
dangered by a brush fire that caught near it. The town voted 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 265 

a reward to the person who discovered and watched the fire, 
and at once took measures to have the grounds freed from rub- 
bish and brush, paying extra wages for the work. In 181 1 and 
again in 1827 the house was struck by lightning. 

At the time of locating the meeting-house lot the town was 
sparsely occupied by farmers, and there was little to indicate 
the centers of the subsequently more populous districts. As the 
house was intended for the accommodation of the whole town, 
a central location was selected, which, so long as farming re- 
mained the almost sole occupation of the inhabitants, was quite 
satisfactory. When, however, other kinds of business were in- 
troduced, hamlets and villages sprang up, and in these, churches 
built, so that the town meeting-house was gradually abandoned 
as a general resort for worshippers. 



CHAPTER XX. 

The Early Ministry — New England Custom — Andrew Col- 
lins — John Allen — Benjamin Randall — Isaac Town- 
send — Ebenezer Allen — His call to be Town Minis- 
ter — His Reply — Controversy — Protest against the 
Ordination of Townsend — Protest against the Ordi- 
nation OF Allen — Ordination of Townsend — Ordina- 
tion OF Allen — The Sermon — The Charge — The 
Right-hand of Fellowship — The Entertainment — A 
somewhat Spirituous as well as Spiritual Gather- 
ing. 

ONE of the matters which early claimed the attention of the 
settlers in New England territory was the preaching of the 
Gospel. Sometimes the minister accompanied the first settlers ; 
he at least, if circumstances were favorable, followed in a few 
years. The difficulties met in securing settlers for Wolfeborough 
and the paucity of their number at first prevented any attempts 
at settling a minister or of making any provision for preaching. 

Episcopal clergymen perhaps sometimes visited Governor 
Wentworth's Farm, and there held religious services before 1774, 
but the first action of the town on record touching the matter 
of providing preaching was taken August 25, 1774, when it was 
voted to raise six pounds, six shillings to hire a minister for six 
weeks, at twenty-one shillings a week. There is no evidence, 
however, that the vote became efifective. 

At the annual town-meeting held March 20, 1775, the town 
voted to raise fifteen pounds to "hire preaching." but on account 
of the unsettled condition of the country no results followed this 
vote. Four years after, at the annual meeting, Ebenezer Meder, 
Lieut. Jonathan Lary, and Matthew S. Parker were chosen a 

a<6 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 267 

committee "to hire a minister to preach four months the ensuing 
summer on as reasonable terms as they can," a condition being 
"that he preach one-third part of the time on the northeast side 
of Smith's Pond." It is not probable that the committee ac- 
complished anything, as the war was then in full blast. 

In the spring of 1781 Andrew Collins came to the town, and 
made an engagement with the selectmen to preach and keep 
school. The terms were as follows : Collins was to preach the 
Gospel and keep school where the selectmen should direct, pro- 
vided the place be "accommodated and convenient," for one 
year from that date (May 17, 1781), if not sooner dismissed; 
the selectmen were to board and lodge Collins, and pay him 
eight dollars per month. The fitting of a room for a school and 
religious meetings was not very expensive, as will be shown by 
the following letter : — 

To the Honorable Gentlemen, the Selectmen of the town of 
Wolfborough, chosen for accommodating necessary con- 
veniences for said town in A. D. 1781 : — 

Before you, the said Selectmen, is herein laid the accompt for 
providing the necessary articles for the accommodating of a 
school in said town, by John Lucas, viz: 

To 119 feet of boards $ .45 



To making a Preaching Desk 

To making one Writing Table 

To four benches 

To one Water Bucket 

To one hundred nails 



55 
82 

55 
25 
40 



02 



$3- 

Gentlemen, the above-mentioned school accommodations are 
all provided according to your order given, and the humble re- 
quest of your afifectionate well-wisher, 

Andrew Collins, S. M., 
Under the direction of the Selectmen. 
Wolfborough, May 22, 1781." 



268 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Here is Mr. Collins bill : — 

"The Selectmen of the town of Wolfborough 

to Andrew Collins Dr. 

To Preaching and Keeping School from May 17th 

1781 to August 7th 1781 — two and 2-3 months at 

eight dollars per month £6: 4: o 

To 12 weeks board at Mr. Meder's at one dollar per 

week 3 :i2 : 4 



£9:16: 4 



At the close of Mr. Collins' engagement he immediately made 
a contract with the selectmen "to keep school until the 17th 
day of May next, teaching reading, writing, and arithmetick, at 
six silver dollars per month." It seems, however, that matters 
did not run smoothly, as in November following, a town-meet- 
ing was held for the purpose of ascertaining if the people wished 
to retain the services of Mr. Collins. At a first meeting they 
voted seventeen to thirteen, and at a second meeting twelve to 
nine to hire him, but it is evident that he soon left the town. 

A special tax of seventeen pounds had been assessed on the 
inhabitants of the southwest portion of the town, the locality to 
which Mr. Collins had confined his labors. In the spring of 
1782 the people voted to withdraw this list and substitute an- 
other of less amount, since so large a sum as that assessed was 
not necessary on account of his having left town. In the tax- 
list, against the name of Moses Varney, a Quaker, was written 
"for schooling only," signifying that he did not purpose to com- 
mit himself to a compulsory method of supporting preachers. 

For several years following 1781 the town took no action in 
regard to supplying preaching, but at the annual meeting of 
1786 Cols. Henry Rust and William Cotton were appointed a 
committee to ascertain what the town proprietors would donate 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 269 

towards building a meeting--house and settling a minister, two 
matters very intimately connected. 

From a letter written to the selectmen of Wolfeborough by 
John Allen, of Stratham, dated Jan. 28, 1792, it appears that 
his father, Rev. John Allen, visited Wolfeborough about 1783, 
and preached some. He attempted to visit the town again in 
March, 1784, for the purpose of making some arrangements in 
relation to a settlement, but, setting out from Pittsfield, found 
the roads in Gilmanton so blocked with snow that he gave up 
the journey to Wolfeborough, and visited Canterbury. He died 
previous to the date of his son's letter. Rev. Joshua Cushman, 
of Dover, preached in Wolfeborough four Sabbaths in the 
autumn of 1791, being hired by the selectmen. 

About 1780 Benjamin Randall, a native of Newcastle, N. H., 
who had removed to New Durham, organized a church there, 
one of the tenets of which was that the people should not be 
taxed for the support of the ministry, but that it should be sus- 
tained by voluntary contributions. Isaac Townsend, one of Ran- 
dall's adherents, removed to Wolfeborough in the spring of 
1791. He had preached some while residing in New Durham, 
and after his arrival in Wolfeborough continued the practice, 
holding meetings in private dwellings. Some of the citizens 
of Wolfeborough had previously adopted some of Randall's re- 
ligious views, and consequently afBliated with Townsend, thus 
maintaining Sabbath worship and other devotional meetings in 
a humble way. Between 1780 and 1790 several Quaker families 
had moved into Wolfeborough, among them the Varneys the 
Bassetts, and the Nowells, men of some means and good business 
capacity. They, too, were opposed to compulsory methods of 
supporting ministers. 

The time had now come when the larger portion of the more 
influential citizens of Wolfeborough deemed it proper to adopt 
measures for settling a town minister, whose support should be 
legally assured as had been generally the custom in New Eng- 



270 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

land, by an assessment of taxes on the inhabitants. In defence of 
this practice it was urged that while the magistrate was justly 
supported by the people, as they had the benefit of his services, 
so the minister, the more self-sacrificing of the two, was entitled 
to his living from the same source, and as all the inhabitants were 
benefited by his ministrations, all should be required to aid in 
sustaining him. 

Mr. Ebenezer Allen preached in Wolfeborough during the 
summer of 1792, and a town-meeting was called by the selectmen, 
to be held on the twenty-second day of August, "to see if the 
town will agree to give Mr. Ebenezer Allen a call to settle as 
a minister of the Gospel in the town, and if there should be an 
agreement concluded, to adopt such measures as shall be neces- 
sary." 

At the meeting it was voted to give Mr. Allen a call, and a 
committee of invitation was appointed, consisting of Colonel 
Henry Rust, Joshua Haines, James Connor, Colonel William 
Cotton, Andrew Wiggin, Joseph Edmonds, Samuel Tibbetts, 
Jonathan Hersey, Daniel Brewster, Ebenezer Meder, Captain 
Reuben Libbey, Isaiah Home, Jacob Haines, Lieutenant John 
Martin, Ithiel Clififord, Joseph Keniston, Lieutenant Andrew 
Lucas, Perry Hardy, Samuel Tibbetts, Jr., Richard Rust, Esq., 
Jacob Smith, John Fullerton Stephen Home, Henry Rust, Jr., 
James Fullerton, James Lucas, Jr., Josiah Thurston, David 
Piper, James Marden, Jason Chamberlain, Paul Wiggin, Jesse 
Merrill, Aaron Frost, Nathaniel Brown, William Triggs, Isaac 
Goldsmith, Benjamin Home, George Yeaton, Levi Tibbetts, and 
Benjamin Wiggin, embracing probably all the freeholders in 
the town favorable to the movement. 

Colonel Henry Rust was appointed chairman of the committee, 
which was to ascertain on what terms Mr. Allen could be en- 
gaged, and report at an adjourned meeting to be held on the 
30th mstant. At the adjourned meeting, the committee reported 
through its chairman that it had unanimously agreed to give Mr. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 271 

Allen a call and an annual salary of forty-five pounds — one- 
third of which should be cash, one-third grass-fed beef at twenty 
shillings a hundred, and one-third corn at three shillings or rye 
at four shillings a bushel or cash, as the payee might prefer. This 
salary was to increase as the ratable estate of the town should 
increase until it amounted to sixty pounds, and thenceforth re- 
main stationary. 

Mr. Allen was also to have twenty-five cords of wood delivered 
annually at his place of residence, and thirty pounds expended 
on his buildings, to be paid in such articles as should be neces- 
sary for their completion. A vacation of five Sabbaths a year 
was to be allowed him during the first three years of his ministry, 
and afterwards one of four Sabbaths annually. 

It was voted to accept the foregoing report, and Colonel Henry 
Rust, Joshua Haines, and Andrew Wiggin were appointed a 
committee to convey to Mr. Allen this report and receive his 
answer. It was also voted to exempt his estate from taxation 
during his ministry, should he accept the proffered call. The 
meeting was then adjourned to the twentieth day of September, 
when the committee was to report Mr. Allen's reply. At the 
adjournment it was presented and read. 

"To the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Wolf- 
borough, convened in Town Meeting this 20th Day of Sep- 
tember, A. D. 1792: — 

Men, Brethren, ^ Fathers : The Call or Invitation which you 
have given me to settle as a Minister of the Gospel in this Town 
of Wolfborough has engaged my serious Attention. Wishing to 
act agreeably to the Pleasure of that God whom I serve in the 
Gospel of his Son, & considering the Unanimity which you have 
exhibited in your Proceedings, together with other Circum- 
stances, as affording a striking presumption what that Pleasure 
is in the Case now depending, I comply with your Request. To 
be your Minister, and preach to you the unsearchable Riches of 



2^2 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Christ according to the Measure of Grace & Ability given, I 
consent & agree. Great, arduous, important is the Work! How 
important to you and your Children ! How important to me ! 
How important to that spiritual Kingdom which consists in 
Righteousness, Peace, & Joy in the Holy Ghost ! Who is suf- 
ficient for these Things ! But, says the Redeemer, 'Lo ! I am 
with you always, even unto the End of the World.' 

Permit to expect, for I shall certainly need, your Love, your 
Kindness, your Prayers. 

Ebenezer Allen." 

This answer was acceptable to the meeting, which voted that 
Thursday, the twenty-fifth day of October, be appointed for the 
ordination of Mr. Allen, and Henry Rust, Jr., Richard Rust, 
Reuben Libbey, and Stephen W. Home were appointed a com- 
mittee to extend invitations to ministers and churches to attend 
the ordination services and to provide necessary entertainment 
for their reception at the expense of the town. It was also voted 
that Jonathan Allen, of Bradford, Jonathan French, of Andover, 
Mr. McKean, of Beverly, John Shaw, of Haverhill, Mr. Rowland, 
of Exeter, Mr. Thayer, of Kingston, Mr. Merrill, of Plaistow, 
Samuel Haven, of Portsmouth, James Miltemore, of Stratham, 
Mr. Gray, of Dover, Mr. Haven, of Rochester, Mr. Piper, of 
Wakefield, Mr. Shaw, of Moultonborough, Mr. Smith, of Gil- 
manton, Mr. McClintock, of Greenland, Mr. Hidden, of Tam- 
worth, and Mr. Porter, of Conway, be invited, with their 
churches, to act in council at the ordination. 

At a town-meeting held October i6, 1792, this action was 
taken : 

''Whereas, we, the freeholders and others, inhabitants of this 
town of Wolfborough, did, in the month of August last, give Mr. 
Ebenezer Allen a call or invitation to settle as a minister of the 
gospel in the said town, and whereas, by his answer in writing of 
the twentieth of September last, he fully complied with the said 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 273. 

call or invitation, plainly expressing- his consent and agreement 
to be our minister ; and whereas, being then convened in town- 
meeting, we voted to accept his answer ; we do therefore now re- 
solve, declare, and vote: 

First, That the said Ebenezer Allen, upon giving his answer 
aforesaid, on the said twentieth of September, and his answer 
being accepted immediately, became the first minister of the 
gospel of this town of Wolfborough. Such we then considered 
him : such we now declare him. 

Secondly, That although he was not at that time ordained, yet 
the civil contract between him and the people being completed, 
he, the said Ebenezer Allen, was settled, at least so far as respects 
things of a civil nature ; and therefore immediately had a good 
and sufficient title to the right or lot of land which was given or 
reserved for the use of the first minister of the gospel who should 
settle in said town. 

Thirdly, That the said Ebenezer Allen shall have for himself, 
his heirs and assigns forever, the said right or lot of land, being 
number eighteen, in what is called the Lords', or Masonian Pro- 
prietors', quarter of this town of Wolfborough, and consisting 
of about three hundred and fifty-four acres. 

Voted, Secondly, — Whereas it is suspected that Mr. Isaac 
Townsend designs to be ordamed in some part of this town of 
Wolfborough as a minister of the gospel, before the ordination of 
Mr. Ebenezer Allen, which is appointed to be on Thursday, the 
twenty-fifth day of the present October ; and whereas, he may 
entertain some faint hope that he shall thereby be entitled to the 
whole or a part of the right or lot of land which was given for 
the use of the first minister of the gospel who should settle in 
the town ; — we, therefore, the freeholders and other inhabitants 
of this town of Wolfborough (to prevent dif^culty), do hereby 
declare — ist, that we have not invited or agreed with the said 
Isaac Townsend to settle as a minister of the gospel in this town ; 



274 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

secondly, that we utterly disown him as our minister ; and thirdly, 
that we hereby forbid him to be ordained in any part of the said 
town of Wolfboroug-h, with any view, design, or intention of 
beine considered or acknowledsfed as a minister of the town." 

It was also voted that Mr. Allen's salary commence from the 
time that he consented to be the minister of the town, and that 
the constable serve a notice of the second vote passed at this 
meeting on Mr. Townsend. 

A portion of the inhabitants being unwilling to accept Mr. 
Allen as their minister, prepared a dissent, which was presented 
to the selectmen by William Rogers and William Lucas, and an 
informal town-meeting was held, at which it was voted to enter 
the same on the town records. The following is the instru- 
ment : — 

We, whose names are here underwritten, being inhabitants of 
the town of Wolfborough, declare that we have considered our- 
selves of the Baptist persuasion, and have constantly attended 
to and had a Baptist preacher for the space of seventeen months 
past, and do now look upon ourselves as a Baptist society ; and 
understanding that Mr. Ebenezer Allen is to be ordained as a 
minister of the town of Wolfeborough, we hereby enter our dissent 
against him as our minister ; and declare that we have never 
called nor desired him, neither will we have any concern in or- 
daining and settling him, the said Mr. Allen, as our minister, but 
do make choice of and have called Mr. Isaac Townsend as our 
minister, and are determined, as the happy government we set 
under allows us liberty of conscience, according to a previous 
appointment from the fourth of September, to ordain him as 
minister the twenty-fifth of this instant October. 

Isaac Townsend. Josiah Evans. 

William Lucas. William Rust. 

Thomas Chase. John Furbur. 

Israel Piper. Thomas Cotton. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 275 

William Rogers. John Warren. 

Henry Allard. John Edmonds. 

John Snell. Jesse Whitten. 

Wolfborough, October 19, 1792." 

There were other citizens of Wolfeborough, especially among 
the Quakers, who were opposed to the ordination of Mr. Allen 
as the town minister. It is not, however, to be inferred from 
the strong terms used in the forgoing manifestoes that there 
were any persons in town really hostile to Mr. Allen or Mr. Town- 
send. The issue was as to the manner of supporting the town 
minister,— the one party claiming that the benefited should reward 
the benefactor, even though it should require the compulsion of 
law to do so, the other claiming that a free Gospel did not need 
enforced contributions to sustain it. 

It so happened that, according to previous arrangments, the 
same day, October twenty-fifth, had been fixed upon for the 
ordinations of both Mr. Townsend and Mr. Allen, the Baptists 
dating their notice from the fourth day of the preceding Sep- 
tember, and the town from the twentieth day of the same month. 

Mr. Townsend was ordained in his own dwelling-house in the 
early part of the day appointed. The ordaining council con- 
sisted of Elders Benjamin Randall, Samuel Weeks, Joseph 
Boodey, and John WHiitney, Elder Weeks being chosen modera- 
tor, and Elder Randall, clerk of the council. The sermon was 
preached by Elder Weeks from the third, fourth, and seventh 
verses of the sixth chapter of II. Corinthians, "Giving no offence 
in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed : But in all things 
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, 
in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, By the word of truth, 
by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the 
right hand and on the left." Elder Boodey offered the ordaining, 
and Elder Whitney, the concluding prayer. The charge was 



276 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



given by Elder Randall, and the right hand of fellowship by 
Elder Boodey. 

In the afternoon of the same day Mr. Allen was ordained at 
the meeting-house as the town minister. To Wolfeborough this 
was the great event of the period, almost the entire population of 
the town being present, also many from adjacent towns. The 
ofhciating clergymen were Rev. Mr. Allen of Bradford, Rev. 
Mr. Whittemore, of Stratham, Rev. Mr. Shaw, of MouUon- 
borough. Rev. Mr. Piper, of Wakefield, and Rev. Mr. Gray, of 
Dover. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Allen, the 
charge delivered by Rev. Mr. Shaw, and the right hand of fellow- 
ship given by Rev. Mr. Piper. Here follow copies of these pro- 
ductions : — 

lid COR. Vth Chap, part of the XXth Verse. 
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ. 

God hath been pleased to display his goodness to men, in many re- 
markable ways, from the beginning of the world. But in nothing does 
the divine benevolence appear with equal lustre, as in those beams of 
light and truth exhibited to men through the great Redeemer. The reve. 
lation of this to mankind has ever been the work of God's faithful ser- 
vants. And the success they have had in their labors is esteemed by 
many an ample "recompense of reward." 

In the infancy of time, when the light of divine truth began to 
dawn upon the world, it was clouded in, by many obscure representa- 
tions, which were only figures of things to come. The most enlightened, 
therefore, of those days, could see no better than "through a glass dark- 
ly." — But the clouds and shadows have since fled away, and the truths 
of divine revelation now shine with a radiant lustre — a lustre enough, 
when beheld by faith, to charm and captivate every heart. In such an 
inviting form the Gospel of Christ comes handed down, through various 
ages and preceding generations to us. Our ears are now saluted with 
the glad tidings of peace on earth, and good will towards men. 

That mankind might become acquainted with the good news of sal- 
vation by a Redeemer, many messengers have been, and are still em- 
ployed as ambassadors from heaven. God hath been pleased to send his 
angels upon this interesting message. "They are all ministring spirits, 
sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." And 
they first congratulated the world with the news of a Saviour, and pro- 
claimed the joyful tidings of peace and reconciliation with God. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 277 

But a message delhrered by those exalted beings above, is not always 
adapted to influence and persuade mankind the best. The superiority 
of their nature and rank in the scale of being forbids their free and fa- 
miliar intercourse with men. Those therefore of our own species are 
much better adapted to the employment of ambassadors from heaven 
than even the angels themselves. And the probability is, that they will 
be much more successful, in persuading men to be reconciled to God. 
The divine grace is likewise much more visible, in the successful influ- 
ence of the word of truth, than if the interesting business had been as- 
signed to them. "We have this treasure therefore in earthen vessels, 
(saith the Apostle) that the excellency of the power may be of God, and 
not of us." And he likewise says, "all things are of God, who hath recon- 
ciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath committed to us the word 
of reconciliation." And immediately upon this, he concludes, as in the 
woras of our text and says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." 

The Ministers of Christ being engaged in the same employment with 
his apostles of old, have an equal right to stile themselves his ambassadors 
that they had. It will not be suspected therefore, that we give them too high 
a title to call them his ambassadors. Those of us then, who are regu- 
larly introduced into the sacred office, may without any appearance of 
arrogance, adopt the stile of the apostle and say, "Now then we are am- 
bassadors for Christ." 

That we may profitably improve and apply these words, upon the 
present solemnity, we shall consider what we are to understand by an 
ambassador of Christ; from whence he receives his commission; the dis- 
position and knowledge requisite; the extensiveness of his office; and 
how he and his embassy are to be received by mankind. 

1st, We are to consider what we are to understand by an ambassador 
of Christ. 

The word ambassador is most commonly used to denominate a mes- 
senger sent from one kingdom or nation to another, to negotiate and 
transact public business. An ambassador of Christ is a person intrusted 
with his gospel, and sent forth to preach and dispense it to mankind. 
The design of his commission is to bring men to be reconciled to God. 
He is employed in this business. — The honor is indeed great! It denotes 
a very high and important trust! But, important as it is, the Great Je- 
hovah has thought best to commit it to men. To men who are regularly 
appointed for that purpose. All such are commissioned according to his 
direction, and are his ambassadors to transact his business here on earth, 
and they are to treat with the rest of mankind, and persuade them to be 
reconciled to God. 

In order to illustrate this, we proceed to shew 

lid, From whence he receives his commission. This he receives 
from Christ. It is conferred on him by the solemn rite of ordination. 
He is thus separated, set apart, and consecrated to the important work. 



278 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



It hath pleased God, in some mode or other to appoint certain men, 
to be his messengers to the rest of their species, in every age from the 
beginning of the world. In ancient times, Moses and the Prophets were 
employed in this great embassy. They were animated and commissioned 
thereto by inspiration, and a divine impulse immediately from heaven. 
They were sent by a positive command from God, and charged with his 
messages to men, and they always spoke and delivered the truth as they 
were moved by inspiration. 

After the Prophets, the Son of God himself was sent from heaven, 
to establish a covenant of peace between God and his rebellious people, 
— and he came with the olive branch of peace, and authority in every 
respect, to transact the affairs of his kingdom here on earth, and before 
he again left the world, "he gave some apostles: and some prophets: and 
some, evangelists: and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting 
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body 
of Christ." 

Our Lord first called to himself his desiples, and out of these "he 
chose and ordained twelve, whom also he named apostles;" and after 
one of them had proved an apostate, "his bishoprick let another take," 
said an inspired apostle. And Matthias was accordingly ordained to 
"take that part of the ministry, from which Judas by transgression fell." 
The apostles afterwards likewise, by the direction of the Holy Ghost, 
separated Barnabas and Saul, and ordained them to the same divine 
employment. "I am ordained," says one of them, "to be an apostle and 
a teacher of the gentiles." And they thus proceeded and "ordained them 
elders in every church." Ordination was performe.. "by prayer and 
laying on of the hands of the presbytery." And it was a standing or- 
der that such ordinations should be continued, and men thus in the most 
solemn manner be separated to the work of the ministry. "The same 
commit thou to faithful men," says Paul in his charge to Timothy, "who 
shall be able to reach others also." The institution has accordingly ever 
been practiced by all their followers. And there has been a succession of 
men thus ordained ever since the days of the apostles. The ordination 
of every regular minister may thus be traced from Christ himself, and no 
one is able to point out wherein the succession has been interrupted. 

The ministers of our congregational churches have an equal right to 
the claim of being the successors of the apostles with the bishops of 
England or of Rome. And although ordination be not performed by 
men who pretend to any dignity above their brethren in office; yet it is 
equally valid as if our bishops held ever so large a benefice, or put on 
ever so many airs of state. We all have as extensive a commission as 
can possibly be given on earth. "Now then we are ambassadors for 
Christ." — We now proceed 

Illd, To consider the disposition and knowledge requisite for an 
ambassador of Christ. A man who is endued with this important trust, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 279 

and thus undertakes the work of the ministry, ought most undoubtedly 
to be a man of true religion. The honor of his divine master ought to 
be very near his heart. This is the most essential qualification for a 
minister of the gospel. It is so essential, that without it, no one ought 
ever to take upon him the sacred trust. 

For a man to be bound to preach the gospel, the doctrines of which 
he does not believe, and "to be tied to an employment, while he has not 
an inward conformity to it (says an excellent author) is both unbecom- 
ing, and the most unpleasant and uncomfortable state of life conceiv- 
able." When he undertakes to instruct others in religion, he offers that 
as a light to them, which has never proved of this salutory efficacy to 
himself. Such a man is entirely unworthy the sacred profession; and 
will prove a scandal to religion, or be obliged to live in continual re- 
straint or hypocrisy. And the one is equally as dangerous to others as the 
other is to himself. There can be no safety therefore in his undertaking 
to preach the gospel. He will not be faithful in a cause that he does not 
view in its real importance. He will not heartily espouse the character 
of one, for whom he has not a tender regard. And the man who does 
not entertain a devout love to the great author of our religion, and to 
mankind, will not deeply engage to promote the glory of the one, or the 
best interest and happiness of the other. A devout love to God, and an 
affectionate regard to the souls of men, are the two cardinal and even 
radical exercises in our holy religion, and are absolutely requisite for a 
gospel minister. And it is equally necessary also that he should him- 
self believe those doctrines, which, by his office, it becomes his duty to 
enjoin upon others. We cannot therefore insist too strongly upon the 
most hearty sincerity, in one, who professes to preach the gospel. His 
heart must be impressed with a true and just sense of religion. He 
must experience the divine influences of it upon his soul, an I be trans- 
formed into the genius and spirit of the gospel. 

And it is not only requisite that the ministers of Christ be men of 
true religion; but men of serious and regular deportment and behaviour. 
They must carry the visible marks of their regard to Christ in their 
lives and conversation. They must be an example to their hearers in 
word, in doctrine, and in the practise of every virtue. 

The actions of men, whatever their profession may be, always pass 
for the real index of their hearts. They are the criterion by which their 
true character is known. And it is always expected that men of piety; 
and especially those to whom the care of souls is entrusted, should be 
holy and exemplary in their lives. In proportion therefore, as they devi- 
ate from the rules of the gospel, the world of mankind never fail to load 
them with censures; and reproaches are often heaped upon the whole 
body of the clergy for their sakes; and even religion itself does not es- 
cape the infamy of it. How important then is it that the ministers of 
Christ should be visibly as well as internally holy! The reputation of 



2go HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

religion itself, to say nothing of their own character, requires that they 
sacredly conform to the precepts and doctrines of Christ. Out of the 
good treasure of their hearts, therefore, they should invariably bring 
forth that which is good. And as long as they support this character, 
the truths of the gospel dispensed by them, will appear in their truly 
amiable and delightful nature. Like the rays of the sun reflected upon 
the world, by that bright orb that rules the night, they will appear with 
a delightful lustre; and those men themselves are so far calculated to 
shine as lights in the world. 

But all good men art not, in every respect, qualified to preach the 
gospel. A man may be a good man, and yet may have but very little 
doctrinal acquaintance with the truths of Christianity. A much further 
acquaintance of those is necessary for one who undertakes to instruct 
others; and next to a vital principle of religion, a very considerable de- 
gree of knowledge is requisite for a gospel preacher. 

I do not say that a collegiate education is absolutely necessary for a 
minister of Christ. Nor do I say that men of the greatest genius only 
may undertake the sacred employment. Men may obtain a good degree 
of knowledge and never be seen in any university. And men of moder- 
ate abilities, well improved, may become useful to society, even as minis- 
ters of the gospel. But the abilities of no man, unimproved by study, 
are equal to the extensive business. The best natural genius, unculti- 
vated by science, is like gold in the mines, rather than that which is pu- 
rified and refined; and the talents of Christ's ministers ought always to 
appear like gold well refined and tried. Their natural capacity ought 
therefore to be well improved and enlarged by close application to their 
studies. The more improvement they make, other qualifications being 
the same, the better able are they to instruct mankind. They ought 
especially to be well acquainted with the truths and doctrines contained 
in the sacred bible. 

A man would make but a poor figure as an ambassador abroad, who 
did not understand the constitution and laws of the kingdom to which 
he belongs. And he is much less qualified as an ambassador from God 
to men, who is not well acquainted with the scriptures both of the old and 
new testament. These contain the constitution and laws by which he is 
to regulate his conduct; and the principles upon which he is to treat 
with mankind. They contain the sum total of what he is to deliver in 
his messages to men. He may not exceed, or fall short of a just and 
impartial distribution of what is committed to him from those golden 
treasures. No one may add to, or diminish from anything contained in 
the sacred bible. And how can any act with sufficient caution in such a 
momentous affair, unless they understand the contents of this sacred 
volume? Ignorance in one who attempts to preach the gospel, is of all 
errors the most inexcusable. It plainly declares his forwardness to run 
before he is sent. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 281 

A man who would become an able divine, will make it his daily busi- 
ness to study the holy scriptures; And without this, let his genius or 
moral goodness be ever so great, he will not be an accomplished instruct- 
or. He must study the scriptures diligently, read them with attention, 
and make use of such expositors as have made the deepest researches 
into them. He must likewise improve every other method possible to 
obtain the most perfect acquaintance with the sublime truths contained 
therein. 

It may not be inferred from hence, that I suppose those truths that 
are essential to salvation, lie so deep as to be far beyond the common 
view of men. But a man may understand enough for his own faith 
and practice, as a christian, and not be able to instruct others. He who 
undertakes to instruct others should be able to compare one part of the 
scriptures with another; to see the connexion between them; and to ex- 
plain the whole, and explain all parts of them, according to their original 
harmony and agreement; for the want of this, many have made the 
most awful havock of the scriptures conceivable. They have been made 
to speak as many absurdities and contradictions as there are humors, 
passions or prejudices in their ignorant, opinionated expositors. A 
dreadful idea indeed, that the sacred oracle should be thus treated, tor- 
tured and torn in pieces! And that this should be done too, by men who 
profess to be their interpreters! Too much care cannot be taken in guard- 
ing against such errors. 

It is confessed by all, except such as are novices indeed, "that there 
are some things contained in the sacred writings, hard to be understood, 
which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do, also other 
scriptures, to their own destruction." And from hence we see the need 
of learning, in order rightly to interpret them; and the further men dive 
into the broad and bottomless ocean of divine knowledge, if they do not 
go beyond and bewilder themselves, the better able they will be to in- 
struct others. From these deep researches they will thus be able to 
bring forth things new and old. 

As there are some branches of science which have a more favorable 
aspect upon the study of divinity than others, it is by no means amiss 
that a minister's mind should often be replenished from hence. Such is 
particularly the study of the ancient languages; the history of nations, 
both ancient and modern; the rise and fall of the various empires of the 
world; and especially treatises upon morality and religion, natural and 
revealed. 

The principles of natural religion cannot be too well understood, 
nor our moral obligations too clearly investigated, by one who is called 
to dispense the word of truth. Upon the broad basis of the religion of 
nature, revelation itself is founded; and its object is to correct, to raise 
and elevate the first principles of our nature, and temper them with the 
divine. 



282 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Every degree of human knowledge ought to be so arranged, as to 
lead on to divine, and bring us to be more familiarly acquainted with the 
oracles of God: And there, as in a point, ought all the studies of a min- 
ister to converge and finally centre. Ministers should thus universally 
strive, like ApoUos, to be "'mighty in the scriptures." From these sacred 
treasures, as from a store-house, all their instructions should be drawn 
forth and adapted to the particular state, situation, and circumstances 
of their people. 

And to apply the doctrines and precepts of the gospel with skill, a 
minister ought likewise to be well acquainted with human nature. He 
should be able to look into mankind and see them in every attitude they 
may ever be placed. He may then with exactness learn the state and 
circumstances of his own people, see what part of advice or instruction 
they need, and adapt it to them accordingly; as he knows their disease, 
he may with greater hopes of success point out the remedy and he will 
be able thus to apply the terrors of the divine law, or to pour in the 
soothing and assuaging oil of the sacred gospel, as occasion requires; 
and having the springs of action in some measure at his command, he 
will endeavor, by the utmost of his power, to lead them in the paths of 
true religion. Such a guide is like a skilful pilot at the helm in the 
time of storm, and will use all his skill to anchor them safely on Christ, 
the only foundation of all our hopes. — We are now 

iVth, To consider the extensiveness of a minister's office. And it is 
indeed very extensive. But a principal part, nevertheless, is to preach 
the gospel — and to do this agreeable to the rules prescribed him, ought to 
engross his greatest attention. 

The injunction given to the apostles, and thro' them to all Christ's 
ministers is this: "Go, preach the gospel;" and they are to preach it in 
its genuine purity and original perfection; not with wisdom of words, 
but in its native simplicity and beauty. And "who is that faithful and 
wise steward whom the Lord shall make ruler over his household to give 
them their portion of meat in due season?" "Who is sufficient for 
these things?" It is no disparagement to the ministers of Christ to con- 
fess their own insufficiency for so arduous a business; and did they not 
derive aid from above they would never be able to "fulfil their ministry." 
The world in general have but narrow conceptions of that charge which 
is laid upon them. They are commissioned to negotiate a treaty of 
peace between God and men. Their business is to bring men to be rec- 
onciled to God; and to accomplish this great end, will occupy all their 
talents, let them be ever so extensive. And after all, the reflection that 
they labour so much in vain, will often depress their spirits, and almost 
sink them in the dust. It is nevertheless their duty to go forward and 
preach Christ and him crucified, "whether men will hear, or whether 
they will forbear," "Woe is unto me (saith the apostle) if I preach not 
the gospel:" And the same woe will fall on all the ministers of Christ, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 283 

if they neglect it; and they must preach the gospel as those who must 
give an account. 

Those who are devoutly engaged in the dispensation of the word, 
and have an hearty desire for the souls of men. will keeep the people of 
their charge in view before them; will consider what doctrines are most 
essential to their salvation as well as improvement in christian knowl- 
edge and practical godliness, and make these the principal object of their 
attention. They will bring these often into view, and inculcate them 
with all the energy of a pious zeal for God and regard to the souls of 

men. 

The best of men, indeed, are not aJl united in their opinion, what 
doctrines are essential to salvation, or are most useful to mankind; and 
inthisimperfectstate.itcan hardly be expected, that all men should think 
in every respect exactly alike. But their disagreement does not originate 
from the scriptures, but from themselves. A man therefore conscious of 
the frailties of human nature, will be careful how he imposes his own 
sentiments as an infallible test for the belief of others. But however 
cautious he may be in controuling the faith of others, every one who 
preaches the gospel ought to have the main principles of religion estab- 
lished in his own mind. He ought to determine for himself what doc- 
trines are most essential to salvation, and make them the basis and 
ground work of all his preaching. And as cautious as I am of controul- 
ing the faith oi: others, I frankly confess, I believe all the truths and doc- 
trines contained in the sacred bible, as far as understood, essential to 
salvation, and do not hesitate to impose the belief of them upon all man- 
kind. 

But nevertheless there are some doctrines contained in the bible, 
which I view of more importance than others. Such particularly are a 
belief of the being and perfections of God, the divinity of Jesus Christ, 
the original purity and present elapsed state of man, the necessity and 
eflBcacy of the atonement Christ has made for sin, our absolute need of 
repentance towards God and faith in the Redeemer, of regeneration and 
the sanctification of our nature, the certainty of a resurrection and of a 
future judgment. These all appear to me to be very impotant doctrines, 
and such as a faithful minister will not fail to inculcate upon his hear- 
ers. Nor will he omit the various duties men owe to God, to themselves 
and to the world around them. He will not neglect to "declare" the 
whole "counsel of God;" and he will endeavor to do it with that energy 
and pathos most likely to convince sinners of their errors, to edify the 
people of God. and to build them up in faith and holiness. 

But the whole duty of a minister does not lie in the pulpit, nor in 
preaching the gospel. He is called by his office to other employments 
that are often of equal or greater importance than this. He is placed as 
a watchman upon the walls of God's Jerusalem. And he is always to 
give warning when he sees any danger. He is to warn every one and be- 
seech them in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. 



284 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



A faithful minister watching for souls, cannot fail to improve every 
opportunity to gain access to them, and to lead and direct them in the 
paths of true religion. He will visit his people therefore, as often as 
he is able in health, and will by no means neglect it in times of sickness 
and affliction. An opportunity then often presents, to do those friendly 
offices in conversation and prayer, that in times of health are not in his 
power. He will endeavor therefore, at such times, in an especial manner, 
to become a worker together with God and bring men to be reconciled 
to him. 

The necessity of those duties, brings to mind the almost fatal con- 
duct of mankind, in putting off that till on beds of sickness, and perhaps 
a dying hour, which ought to be the business of their whole lives. How 
often is a minister called to visit the sick, in the last moments of their 
life, who have not given testimony of their faith and repentance before! 
and it is not unlikely but some in this critical moment may be in a state 
of despair; and others have no bands in their death, being wholly at ease; 
either of which must give a minister great distress for them. Counsels 
and directions at such times, can be but a very little attended to by 
them. The most that he can do is to pray for them, and commit them 
into the hands of him who made them, and resign them to his sovereign 
disposal. 

And a minister of Christ, who is sensible of his duty to his people, 
even in times of health will not cease to pray for them. He is a man 
of prayer and will employ a very considerable part of his time in this 
duty. He will devoutly implore the blessing of God upon his labours, 
upon himself, upon the people of his charge, and upon the whole world 
of mankind; and he will not only pray, but watch. A pious minister is 
a good watchman. He will take heed "therefore to himself, and to his 
flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made him an overseer." And 
"blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find 
watching." — We are now in the 

Vth, And last place to shew how an ambassador of Christ and his 
embassy are to be received by mankind. Ambassadors from the courts 
of earthly princes are entitled, by the laws of nations to many immunities 
and much respect. Their persons are always deemed inviolable; and 
their property is not subject to be seized. But the ambassadors of the 
Almighty Prince of heaven neither claim, desire, nor expect any such 
immunities and privileges as these. They claim only that respect and 
deference which is due to their office. And if there be so much honor due 
to one who bears an embassy from an earthly prince, there is some to 
be expected by such as are ambassadors from the King of heaven. They 
are honored with the highest commission ever given to men. "There 
is nothing in any office, ancient or modern, I ever saw (says a learned 
bishop) so exceedingly serious and solemn as this." It becomes men 
therefore, to treat them with so much respect as the ambassadors of 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 285 

Christ, as to "lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness, and to receive 
with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save their souls." 
It is their duty to hearken diligently to the word of God dispensed by 
them, to hear it with attention and candour, and with a mind disposed 
to profit by it. "Every man should be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow 
to wrath." And it is their duty to receive the gospel from Christ's 
ministers as a message from heaven to them, and let it have a suitable 
impression upon their hearts and lives. They will then also learn to 
prize the ministers of Christ, "and to esteem them very highly in love 
for their works sake." 

Such is not the spirit and temper which prevails amongst mankind 
at the present day. How many are there who reject and dispise, or what 
is worse, openly revile both the gospel and its ministers This, to say 
the least, brings a dark cloud upon the age and nation in which we live. 
How few are there in many places, who wish to maintain the gospel! 
And how many who consider the standing ministry, be they ever so 
much engaged to promote their good, as an intolerable burden upon 
society! And to be exempted from it, they set up men as preachers, who 
can scarcely read their bibles. A dark omen this upon our rising re- 
public! 

But thanks be to heaven, there are yet some, and a goodly number, 
who heartily respect the ways of Zion: Who treat the gospel and its 
ministers with due respect. Let them be encouraged to go on, and by 
their utmost exertions, support the cause of religion and the preached 
gospel among them. 

An ardent zeal for religion is good, but none can justify a zeal which 
is not according to knowledge: And of all things, except indifference, 
this is most fatal to true Christianity and vital godliness: And the 
latter most commonly terminates in the former. The constitution of 
man is like an elastic body when bent by violence, and will return, at 
least to its original position, and commonly much further. In proportion 
as it has been strained too far one way, it will soon vibrate the other: 
And it is most frequently the case, that those men, who at one period 
of life, are wound up to the highest pitch of zeal and enthusiasm, at 
another, become of all men the most careless and indifferent to religion, 
and often its greatest enemies. The progress is direct from one extreme 
to the other. When they find they have been taught to lay great stress 
upon that as religion which is not real, but imaginary, they at length 
conclude that all religion is nothing but imagination, and with their 
superstition they relinquish the whole as a fiction. When once they 
are removed form their stedfastness, it is uncertain where they will 
light. They commonly go from one scheme to another 'til they come 
to nothing. The first onsets therefore made upon them, to shake them 
from their stedfastness in religious principles, are an object worthy 
their particular attention. They ought ever to guard against such 
preachers as attempt it, and treat them with a pious neglect. 



286 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

It may be expected that those preachers to whom we allude will 
appear in the resemblance of blazing comets wandering from one place 
to another. They have but little visible likeness to the fixed stars to 
which the ministers of Christ are compared. They have a zeal for God, 
it is true; but not according to knowledge. And the apostle, speaking of 
such says, "they zealously affect you, but not well," such men are by no 
means to be encouraged. The gospel of Christ is not to be preached 
by a novice, nor any men v/ho are ignorant and unlearned. It is to be 
preached only by men of learning and such as are faithful, apt and 
able to teach: And such men only are to be esteemed as the ambassadors 
of Christ: And the messages that they deliver are to be treated as the 
oracles of God, and "mixed with faith in them that hear them." Every 
word ought to be received as a message from the King of heaven; a 
message in which the salvation of men is deeply concerned; a message 
for which all who hear must be accountable. And happy are those who 
treat the gospel with due respect, and the ministers of Christ as his true 
ambassadors. Blessed are those who received the word into good, honest, 
and upright hearts. "Blessed indeed are they who hear the word of 
God and keep it." 

Having thus, as briefly as possible, gone through the subject pro- 
posed; permit me now. 

My brethren, in the work of the ministry, to remind you that "we 
are ambassadors for Christ." Under this appellation we at once see 
what an extensive field there is open before us for action. We are in a 
moment convinced that our Lord has not sent us forth to be idle, but to 
labour: And our duty is to treat with men and bring them to be recon- 
ciled to God. And what an arduous work have we before us! A work 
to which an angel, if clothed in flesh, would not be equal! How then shall 
we execute the important embassy? Thanks be to God, that though 
utterly unable ourselves, our sufficiency is of him. And through him 
strengthening us we can do all things that he has commanded us. Re- 
lying then upon his aid, let us go forward and never "be slothful in busi- 
ness"; but "fervent in spirit serving the Lord." 

The Lord hath reposed a great degree of trust, my brethren, in us. 
"I have set watchmen," says he, "upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which 
shall never hold their peace day nor night." And we must watch contin. 
ually for the souls of men, and never cease to warn and persuade them. 
We must "in meekness instruct those who oppose themselves, if God 
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the 
truth." 

The ministers in this country have in general been noted for their 
unamity among themselves; and for their faithfulness in the work of 
the ministry. Our fathers who have gone before us, have given testimony 
of their fidelity to Christ and his kingdom. Let us then "be followers 
of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Let us 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 287 

especially follow him who hath made it our duty to imitate him in every 
virtue. Let us all study the best good of our respective charges, and 
thus take heed to ourselves, and to the people committed to our care. 
Let nothing retard or hinder us in the discharge of our duty, be it ever 
so difficult or dangerous. And In the way of our duty, we may depend 
upon the divine presence with, and aid to support us. "Lo I am with 
you always," says he, "even to the end of the world." 

As ambassadors of Christ, and as men who are engaged to promote 
his interest; it must give us peculiar pleasure when we see the pros- 
perity of Zion, and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom in the 
world. Such is the pleasure we all undoubtedly feel on this solemn yet 
joyful occasion. We here see a land not long since a wilderness becoming 
a fruitful field and peopled with men of religion. We here see churches 
rising where beasts of prey were wont to rove. 

And this place too, where now we stand before the Lord, was a few 
years since a desert wild. We are now also called to separate a man 
to the work of the ministry, in a place, where the beams of the gospel 
have but lately begun to shine. A place where an ambassador of Christ 
has never been ordained. He is a man likewise who we hope will be 
faithful to his trust. Pray we then for the further prosperity of Zion, 
that her bounds may be enlarged, her walls built up, and that she may 
be established as a city that is at unity in itself. 

It is with pleasure, my dear brother, that we are called to commit 
the souls of this people to your care. We rejoice that a man of your 
approved abilities is to take the charge of them. 

The work of the ministry, we are sensible, in every respect, is not 
intirely new to you. It has been your constant business for a number 
of years to preach the gospel. Your age and experience will now there- 
fore give you many advantages, which a man young and less acquainted 
with the employment, cannot profess. And you will not fail, we trust, 
to improve all your abilities, both natural and acquired, for the glory 
of God and the best good of this people. And you will ever remember 
that "unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required." 

It is noL my province to prescribe to you. Sir, the rules by which 
you are to regulate your conduct either in public or private life. This 
is already done by the great head of the church himself. And you are 
to call no man master on earth, "for one is your master even 
Christ." I wish you not therefore to receive any as a standard of your 
faith, except Christ and the inspired penmen of the old and new testa- 
ment. You may not consider even the immortal Calvin, Arminius or 
Luther among the ancients, nor any of the best among modern writers 
as infallible: infallibility belongs not to men any further than they con- 
form to the divine oracles. The sacred bible is therefore the best, and 
indeed the only standard of orthordoxy given us. Let the bible then be 
the standard of your laith and practice. Bring every sentiment to this 



288 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

standard: and deliver nothing but what you find supported by this 
sacred volume. And by this, let all your conduct as well as preaching 
be intirely regulated and governed; and endeavor thus to approve your- 
self to God and the consciences of men. 

The world in general, you are sensible, dear sir, make no allowances 
for any inperfections in Christ's ministers. Many scarcely consider that 
they are flesh and blood, and require the necessary means to refresh, 
much less to relax or invigorate animal nature. You will expect there- 
fore, that the least spot will be observed with a microscopic eye and made 
to appear a blemish of the first magnitude. Be thou therefore as wise 
as a serpent, in all your behaviour, and as harmless as a dove. 

While your heart is engaged in the work of the ministry, and you 
desire to do good in the world, you will continue to make such further 
improvements in useful knowledge as you are able. You will improve 
much time in your study, in searching the scriptures, in devotion, and 
in praying for your people. You will likewise improve every opportunity 
to converse with them upon religion and the great concerns of the world 
to come. And like your great Lord and master, you will go about con- 
tinually doing good, both to the bodies and to the souls of men. And 
you will never fail to implore the influences of the holy spirit to direct 
you in your studies, to aid you in your preaching and every other duty. 
Thus will you be enabled to understand the scriptures and find your 
duty both agreeable and delightful. And under the divine aid you will 
"shew yourself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." You will come forth as a 
burning and shining light, being heartily engaged in the cause of re- 
ligion; your light will shine before men, that they seeing your warm 
attachment to your Lord, and desire for the good of men, will glorify 
your Saviour and Redeemer. 

The charge that you are about to take upon you, I doubt not, at 
this time, notwithstanding the aid you expect to receive from above, 
presses exceeding heavy upon your mind. It is the greatest, in its nature 
and importance, ever laid upon man; it is so great indeed, that I am 
sensible that you must receive it with a trembling heart. Your thoughts 
naturally fly at once through all the broad field of duty you have to 
pass; and from thence to the great retribution day, when you and all 
the people of your charge shall appear before the bar of God. And O, 
what a heart-melting consideration is this! How affecting the thought 
that you and your people shall there stand acquited or condemned, ac- 
cording as you preach and they hear the word dispensed by you here on 
earth. Let not such thoughts intirely sink, but teach you care and 
caution, and stimulate you to an ardent zeal finally to be approved by 
your decisive judge. And "be thou faithful unto the death," saith the 
great Amen, the faithful and true witness, "and I will give thee a crown 
of life." 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 289 

My attention is now of course turned to the church and congregation 
in this town: 

My beloved brethren; 

We most heartily congratulate you upon the prospect of having a 
gospel minister settled with you. You will I doubt not, receive as a 
peculiar smile of providence; a blessing to which no earthly comforts 
can be compared. Behold, theu the man, whom you have chosen to be 
your guide. Behold him now, in the most solemn manner, devoting him- 
self to you and your service. We rejoice that you have made choice of 
a man so well calculated to serve you as a minister of Christ. We trust 
that he will be faithful to his blessed Lord and master, and to you. 
Receive him then, as a precious gift of our glorious Redeemer; a gift, 
which he bequeathed to you when he left this world to go to the father. 
Attend to his counsels also, as the messages of God to you for good: 
And should he at any time deliver such sentiments as you do not under- 
stand, examine them with care; and never i-eject them without the most 
mature deliberation. The more you attend to the word of truth, the 
better able you will be to judge for yourselves, and the greater degree 
of candor you will be able to exercise towards your minister. And when 
he preaches the truths of the gospel, you will receive them, "not as the 
word of man, but as they are indeed the word of God. 

You have discovered your regard to the gospel, at least in some 
good measure, by your present exertions. We trust that you consider it 
as an invaluable treasure. But you are to remember, that you even now, 
as far as relates to your minister, have this treasure in an earthern 
vessel; a vessel liable to be broken; and which requires care and attention 
in the usage. You will then never treat him with violence, nor expect 
greater services from him than he is able to perform. And while he is 
faithful to his charge, you will esteem him as an ambassador of Christ. 
You will pray that the spirit of God may attend, assist, strengthen, and 
support him. And you will likewise pray, that all his labours may be 
crowned with success, may have a salutary impression upon your hearts, 
and direct you in the way of life and happiness. 

And may he who walketh amidst the golden candlesticks, who hold- 
eth the stars in his own right hand, give him wisdom to dispense, and 
you grace to improve the word of truth. May you live together in peace 
and harmony here on earth, and finally be prepared to dwell together 
forever in heaven. 

In taking leave of this sacred desk, my last addresses are in a few 
words, to this respectable assembly. 

My beloved friends; 

You have all heard the duty of a minister of Christ. And if you have 
not been deficient in duty to yourselves, you have by this time in many 
respects learned your own. You are sensible that the great end of his 
commission is to bring men to be reconciled to God. This then is a duty 



2QQ HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

to which you are particularly to attend. And in conformity to it, you 
will treat the ministers of Christ as his ambassadors, the sacred gospel 
as the word of reconciliation, and make this the invariable rule of your 
faith and obedience. Let me enjoin it upon you therefore, that you 
carefully hear and heartily obey the gospel of Christ; that you speedily 
enter into a covenant of peace, and become reconciled to God. And I 
doubt not, my brethren in the ministry here present, will join with me 
in this interesting request: "As though God did beseech you," then "by 
us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." AMEN. 

THE CHARGE. 

He that is the Church's head builder, maker and ruler, to whom all 
judgment is committed, and from whom all power is derived, has 
promised that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." So that 
while the world stands, Christ will have a church in it, in which his 
truths and ordinances shall be owned and kept up in spite of all the 
opposition of the powers of darkness. 

To give us an assurance of this he has appointed a succession of 
the gospel ministry to act for and under him, in his ecclesiastical king- 
dom, through all ages of men, to whom he has promised his gracious 
presence, even to the end of the world: As in the commission which 
he first gave to the apostles, and the promise made by him to them, who 
were the chief ministers of state in his kingdom, to whom we find he 
said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore 
and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things 
whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even 
unto the end of the world." This like the Old Testament promise of a 
gospel ministry is made to a succession — like that in Isaiah, 59, 21. "This 
is my convenant with them saith the Lord, my spirit that is upon thee, 
and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of 
thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy 
seeds' seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever." For if, this 
"lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" 
must be understood otherwise, how could he "be with them al- 
way, even unto the end of the world," who died soon after. 
It must be understood of a succession, "lo, I am with you al- 
way, even unto the end of the world," that is saith one, "with you 
and your successors, with you and all the ministers of the gospel in the 
several ages of the church, with all to whom this commission extends, 
and with all that being duly called and sent, thus baptize and thus teach." 
"When the end of the world is come, and the kingdom delivered up to 
God, even the Father; there will be no further need of ministers, and 
their ministration; but 'til then they shall continue, and the great in- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



291 



tentions of the institution shall be answered, which is to transmit the 
gospel from age to age. to the end of the world among the nations of the 
earth," who would soon degenerate without a monitor and standing 
ministry, and be wrapt up in error and darkness. For, the Bible is not 
enough without this institution ; therefore the same Christ that instituted 
apostles to write scripture, instituted pastors and teachers to open and 
apply it; who by his appointment are to be set apart to that honorable 
and important work, by solemn ordination, with fasting and prayer, and 
the laying on of hands. 

The rite of imposing hands we find in the New Testament was used 
in setting apart of gospel ministers — nothing a soleman designation of 
them to the office, and an earnest desire that God would qualify them 
for it, and own them in it. Thus Barnabas and Saul were separated to 
the work. Thus Timothy was ordained by the laying of the hands of the 
presbytery, in the presence of many witnesses. Thus ministers now are 
to be ordained. 

The church and people of God in this town of Wolfborough having 
been led, we hope, by his gracious Sovereign Providence, to make choice 
of Mr. Ebenezer Allen to be set over them in the Lord, to minister to 
them in holy things, as the church have now renewed their choice and 
call in the presence and view of the great assembly, and he having also 
manifested his acceptance of this their call. We therefore being ordained 
ministers in the several churches to which we belong, and having the 
concurrence of our reverend brethren, with the delegates of the churches 
in this venerable council convened on this weighty affair of Christ's 
kingdom, Do now solemnly put our hands on him, uniting in our prayers 
to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all needed 
blessings. That he would enrich this his servant mth treasures of wis- 
dom and knowledge. 

Dear Brother, 

We charge you, before the all-seeing and heart-searching God, and 
In the name and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, "whose eyes 
are as a flame of fire," beholding all things, that you take heed to your- 
self, to your doctrines, to your ministration in holy things, and to your 
conversation and whole conduct of life. That you study to approve your- 
self, as much as in you lies, to God, and to the conscience of your be- 
holders. 

Take heed to thyself in the first place, look well to the state of 
thine own soul. Beware now of hypocrisy and formality. Consider that 
in this solemn scene in which, you have the charge of souls committed 
to you, you have to do with one that seeth not as man seeth — a God that 
looketh on the heart. See therefore that you do indeed devote yourself 
in sincerity to his service in the gospel of his Son. 

Take heed also to thy doctrine. See that it be good, — the doctrine 
of Christ — a doctrine accordingly to godliness. "Speak thou the things 



202 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

which become sound doctrine." Approve thyself to God — "a workman 
that needeth not to be ashamed;" and in order hereto, give thyself to 
reading, meditation and prayer. Make the word of God the great subject 
of your studies — the alone subject of your preaching, and feed the 
people now committed to your care, with the knowledge and understand- 
ing of this. You are not called to range the schools — to follow the mazes 
of metaphysics; the plan of your work is complete in the sacred volume; 
every principle of faith, every rule of life you are to teach, every' argu- 
ment and motive to enforce the christian faith and practice. Keep close 
thereto; and let every human composure have but a second place in your 
regard. Lay the stress of your preaching where the gospel lays the 
stress of religion, and insist rather on the great and evident duties of 
Christianity, than on circumstantials. Be sparing in mattersi of doubt- 
ful disputation, wherein good and wise men have found difficulties, which 
but remotely affect the christian's faith and hope. 

We charge you further to take heed to your holy ministrations — ad- 
minister the sacraments of Christ's institution, viz. — Baptism with water, 
to the proper subjects of it, and the Lord's supper, to visible believers 
of blameless lives — look well to the whole flock committed to your 
charge: Feed the "sheep," and also feed the "lambs." Keep up gospel 
discipline in the church, with impartiality, not preferring one above 
another in judging the causes brought before you. 

Bear a just and faithful testimony against sin, and every scandal 
with whomsoever it shall be found, not fearing the faces of men, nor 
having their persons in admiration because of advantage. 

Moreover we charge you in the fear of God, and in the name of our 
Lord Jesus Christ that you take special heed to your conversation, and 
whole conduct in life — "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, 
in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Teach by 
example, as well as doctrine. 

Live out the blessed gospel you preach before the eyes of the people, 
in the amiable and engaging beauties of practical holiness as ever you 
would hope to be successful in your labours, lor people will ever take it 
for truth that actions speak louder than words. "Therefore seeing you 
have received this ministry, faint not, renounce the hidden things of 
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God 
deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commend yourself to every 
man's conscience in the light of God." 

(Bless the people in the name of the Lord, and the same ministry 
you have received of the Lord Jesus "commit thou to faithful men who 
shall be able to teach others also.") 

If you thus faithfully fulfil your trust, no man will despise you, a 
consciousness of your integrity will support you under all the cares 
and diflQculties you may be called to encounter for the sake of the cause 
in which you are engaged: All but the abandoned of mankind will re- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



293 



spect you; the good, the virtuous will be your friends, your vindicators; 
and, what is infinitely more, that being, who has said, "those that honor 
me, I will honor," will be your shield and your exceeding great reward. — 

AMEN. 

THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOVFSHIP. 

The ceremony of givingthe Right-Hand is as ancient as the christian 
church; and its authority is derived from the apostles of our Lord. — 
It is an action, expressive of that cordial friendship, and social inter- 
course which exhibits a beautiful portrait of the genius of that religion, 
which ought ever to be supreme in the hearts of gospel ministers, which 
they should exercise towards each other, and inculcate upon mankind. 
The public teachers of religion being expected to labour in one common 
cause, as under shepherds of the great over-seer of souls; and under the 
orders of their divine commander, the great Captain of their salvation, 
are bound to yield the sword of the spirit in a most violent conflict with 
a guileful and potent adversary. The combined force of earth, and the 
powers of the gloomy regions being directly opposed to the success of 
the gospel; they who are set for the defence of the truth, should ever 
be prompt to aid each other, and see that their hearts are knit together 
in christian love. 

The venerable council here convened, under the influence of this 
persuasion, have appointed me, to give the pledge of friendship, and 
earnest of their brotherly support unto him, who hath this day been 
regularly ordained a minister of Jesus Christ, by prayer and the laying on 
of hands. Therefore, Rev. and dear sir, we do present you with this 
our right hand, and with it, covenant to hold fellowship with you in all 
social religious acts, as duty shall require. 

And now my brother, if thy heart be right with our hearts, animated 
with ardent love to precious souls, stimulated with holy zeal in the cause 
of our divine Master, come up with us into the chariot of the gospel, and 
following the banners of our heavenly leader — be a faithful minister — 
prove instrumental of adding to the success, and you shall finally par- 
ticipate in the .triumph of him, who goeth forth conquering and to 
conquer. 

Brethren of this church, accept our congratulations on this aus- 
picious day. We have beheld you witnessing a good confession, and, 
in conformity to the example of the holy prophet, ,you have set up your 
Ebenezer, and said. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. — We greet you 
as a/sister church. May you go on and prosper. Give evidence by your 
christian conversation, and exemplary conduct, that you are not ashamed 
of the gospel; and may you at last reap the (glorious reward, contained 
in that promise of the great Head of the church "Unto him that over- 
cometh, will I grant to sit with me, in myithrone; even, as I also over- 
came, and am set down with my father in his throne." 



2QA HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGE. 

The entertainment on the occasion of Mr. Allen's ordination 
was provided at the Cabbott-Wentworth Farm. The committee's 
bill for stores and services here follows : — 

"Town of Wolfborough Dr. 

To the committee appointed to provide entertainment for the 
council attending at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Allen 

For 31-2 gallons rum ii — 2 — 9 

" 4 " wine I — 10 — o 

" 71-4 lbs. loaf sugar 13 — 8 

" 42 " brown sugar i — 5 — o 

■' 21-2 doz. lemons 5 — o 

" amt. of Captain John Martin's acct. for 

victuals and horse keeping 3 — 18 — 6 

" time and expense of Capt. Libbey in go- 
ing after stores i — 5 — 6 



£10— 0—5 



time of committee attending to said business 
3 days of Captain Libbey @ 3 shillings £0 — 9 
3 " " Richard Rust @ 3 " o-^ 

7 " " Stephen Home @ 3 " i — i 

6 " " Henry Rust @ 3 " 0—18 



£2 — 17 
10— 0—5 

£12—17—5 

The first day of the following March a tax of twenty-one pounds 
two shillings and eleven pence was assessed to cover the above 
bill of expenses and the cost of laying the gallery floors. The or- 
der for collecting the same was not signed by the Quaker select- 
man, Moses Varney, and the names of some Quakers and Baptists 
were not on the list of tax-payers, which included about ninety 
persons. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

First Minister's Lot — The Parsonage — Ministerial Tax — 
Varney's Petition — Exempts — The Lawsuit — The 
Glove — Allen's Ancestry and Posterity — His Work 
AND Character — Sudden Death — Comparison of the 
Two First Clergymen — Sketch of Elder Townsend. 

IT has already been noticed that one lot in the Masonian Pro- 
prietors' division of Wolfeborough was intended for the first 
minister who should be settled in the town. At the drawing in 
1766 this was designated to be lot eighteen, which was situated 
in the northwesterly part of the town, near Beech Pond, and con- 
tained three hundred and fifty acres. Its surface was very 
broken, and its location inconvenient for the residence of the town 
minister. Arrangements were made with Mr. Cabbott, then pro- 
prietor of the Wentworth Farm, to exchange this tract of land for 
one more suitable. The lot selected adjoined the ten acre lot as- 
signed for public uses, and on the east end bordered on Lake 
Wentworth. It was on the road leading from the southern to the 
northern part of the town, and was a most desirable location for a 
parsonage. 

Without controversy Mr. Allen was entitled to the lot. Al- 
though Mr. Townsend was first ordained, and was a minister of 
the town, he was not, however, the town minister, being ordained 
by a voluntary religious association, whereas Mr. Allen was or- 
dained by the town corporation itself. There is no evidence that 
Mr. Townsend or his adherents ever claimed any right to the 
minister's lot. 

Although Mr. Allen was settled in 1792, he did not commence 
housekeeping until after his marriage, which occurred four years 

later. In the meantime a portion of his lot was cleared and build- 

295 



296 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



ines erected. These were located about twenty rods from the 
shore of the lake. There the two-story part of the house re- 
mained for several years after his decease, when it was removed 
to Wolfeborough Center, and is now a part of the dwelling of J. 
Frank Chamberlin. The remainder of the parsonage building be- 
came the residence of his son, David Tappan Allen, who married 
Rosamond Key, and had two daughters, namely Betsy Ann and 
Sophia. He died when a comparatively young man. 

At the annual town-meeting of 1793 the town voted "not to 
exempt persons of the Baptist persuasion from paying their pro- 
portion of Mr. Allen's salary for the previous year." The follow- 
ing May it was voted that Mr. Allen should have the use of a 
portion of the meeting-house lot for ten years, and that the labor 
tax to be expended on his buildings should be at the rate of three 
shillings per day. It, however, declined to aid him in clearing 
land. At a town-meeting held Nov. 7, 1796, it was voted not to re- 
lease any person from paying a minister's tax who had paid one 
since Mr. Allen's settlement. 

It seems that the town had been neglectful in furnishing Mr. 
Allen with his annual supply of wood, he not receiving any for 
three years. In 1796 Mr. Allen required a compliance with the 
terms of settlement in this particular. The town offered him 
several additional free Sabbaths, but these he refused, and at a 
town-meeting held Dec. 29, it was voted that the inhabitants of 
the town of Wolfeborough haul to Ebenezer Allen's house 
seventy-five cords of wood by the first day of March next for the 
deficiency, that the selectmen make out the proportion for the 
several persons taxable, according to poll and estate, and that 
each person assessed furnish his allotted proportion. The select- 
men assessed sixty-two persons for one hundred cords of wood, 
that including the amount for which the town was in arrears and 
the allowance for the current year. The quantity apportioned 
to individuals varied from 1-2 a cord foot to one cord and ninety- 
seven feet, Benning Brackett having the smallest allotment and 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 297 

Jonathan Hersey the largest. After this time the minister's wood 
was furnished by the person who would provide it at the lowest 
price, and that was at first less than ten dollars a year. It is said 
that the one hundred cords of wood were delivered to Mr. Allen 
in three days. 

The warrants for the annual taxes at this time were of the fol- 
lowing amounts: minister's tax. £46 — 11 — i; school tax, 
£28 — I — 4 ; town tax, ii8 — 13 — 7. It will be seen that the school 
and town tax combined exceeded the minister's tax by only 
three shillings and ten pence. Undoubtedly most of the persons 
who objected to paying the enforced minister's tax did so from 
conscientious motives, yet it is not improbable that some wished 
only to escape the burden of taxation. At the annual town- 
meeting in 1798 it was voted "that no person be cleared from 
paying a tax for Mr. Allen that has paid heretofore." At a town- 
meeting held in August of the same year it was voted not to in- 
crease Mr. Allen's salary to sixty pounds. 

In 1799 the following petition was presented to the select- 
men, previous to issuing the warrant for the annual meeting: — 

"Wolfborough, March 8, 1799. 

Gentlemen Selectmen of the Town of Wolfborough : 

We, your petitioners, humbly pray you to insert a clause in 
your warrant, desiring the town to pass a vote to separate the 
business of the town and the business of the parish, and that the 
parish choose its own officers to do the business of the parish by 
itself, for the business has been done in such a way that the 
Quakers and Baptist Society have ever been paying a part of 
making and collecting Ebenezer Allen's tax, which they think to 
be very unjust. Therefore, we, your humble petitioners, pray that 
the vote may be passed to separate the business, and in so doing, 
you will do justice to them, and likewise to their humble pe- 



298 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



titioners, and for which we, your humble petitioners, wJll ever 

pray. 

Joseph Varney 
Andrew Wiggin 3rd/' 

The selectmen say in their warrant, "the petition of Joseph 
Varney and others." There is no doubt that other names were 
attached to the petition, as the paper is partially destroyed, evi- 
dently by accident. These petitioners were obviously not at this 
time paying a minister's tax, but simply desired to have no con- 
nection with the matter whatever. The petition was not granted. 

The following persons had already been exempted from paying 
anything toward the support of Mr. Allen, viz., Henry Allard, 
Walter Avery, Daniel Bassett and father, Thomas Chase, Josiah 
Chase, Jonathan Edmonds, Elijah Estes, John Furbur, Isaac 
Jones, John Snell, Thomas Nute, Isaac Townsend, Israel Piper, 
William Rust, William Rogers, Stephen Thurston, Moses Var- 
ney, Joseph Varney, Jesse Whitten, Andrew Wiggin, 3rd, Rich- 
ard Marden, Samuel Estes, Samuel Nowell. 

At the annual town-meeting of 1802 Thomas Cotton and 
others petitioned to be released from paying a minister's tax, but 
the town refused to grant their request. The following October 
the selectmen, who were Mark Wiggin, Dudley Hardy, and 
Jonathan Blake, assessed Cotton with a ministerial tax of one 
dollar and ninety-two cents, and committed it with other taxes to 
Samuel Tibbetts, the town collector, for collection. On the 
twelfth day of January, 1803, Tibbetts took by distraint a cow 
belonging to Cotton, which he sold at public auction, and thereby 
secured the payment of the tax. Cotton sued the selectmen for 
trespass. 

January 12, 1804, the matter was brought before the people 
at a town-meeting called for that purpose, and Stephen Home 
was chosen agent to defend the town in the suit. He subsequently 
declined the appointment, and Jacob Haines was chosen in his 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 299 

stead. The following persons, being present at the meeting, re- 
quested that their dissent against carrying on a lawsuit with Cot- 
ton be recorded : Benning Brackett, Isaac Cotton, James Cotton, 
Cornelius Jenness, Joseph Jenness, Thomas Frost, Valentine 
Wormwood, Samuel Hide, William Cotton, John Young, Wil- 
liam Fernald, Moses Thompson, Samuel Hide, Jr., John Snell, 
Josiah Frost, George Cotton, John W. Fernald, Stephen Nute, 
John Furbur, Aaron Frost, James Fernald, James Cate, John 
Warren, John P. Cotton, Josiah Willey. 

It is not probable that the suit — Cotton versus the town of Wolfe- 
borough — progressed much during 1805. Although the parties 
appeared at the court in Dover, there was no trial. November 6, 
1805, John L. Piper was chosen agent to defend the town in the 
suit. Probablv the case was still delayed. 

In 1806, Mr. Allen having deceased, the town proposed to 
settle with Mr. Cotton on the following terms : to pay him twenty 
dollars for the cow taken by distraint ; to abate the tax for which 
it was taken ; and pay its own costs, which, including the price 
of the cow, amounted to seventy-five dollars or more. On these 
conditions Cotton withdrew the suit. This ended compulsory 
taxation for ministerial support in Wolfeborough ; nor did the 
town as a corporate body ever afterward hire preaching. Propo- 
sitions to do so were a few times inserted in the town warrant, but 
in no instance did tliey receive favorable action. 

By an accident which happened many years ago, the manu- 
scripts of Mr. Allen were destroyed, but some facts have been 
learned in relation to both his ancestry and posterity. 

George Allen was born in England about 1568, and came to 
America in 1635, settling two years later in Sandwich, Mass., 
where he was chosen deputy. His son, Samuel Allen, also born 
in England, came over with the first settlers of Boston in 1628, 
and died in Braintree, Mass., in 1669. He had a son, James, 
bom in 1636 in Braintree, who married Elizabeth Perkins, and 
settled on Martha's Vineyard in 1660. Ichabod, the son of James 



300 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 

Allen, and the grandfather of the town minister, was born in 
1676, and died in 1755. His son Ebenezer was bom in 1716, and 
lived at Holmes Hole, now Vineyard Haven, Mass., where in 
1746 the Rev. Ebenezer Allen was born. 

Mr. Allen came to Wolfeborough in the summer or early 
autumn of 1792, thus recommended: — 

"June 11, 1792. 

This may certify that Mr. Ebenezer Allen graduated at the University 
of Cambridge in the year 1771; that he sustained a good. moral character; 
that he is esteemed well as a preacher of the, gospel, and as such may be 
improved by any people who shall think proper to invite him. 

Isaac Merrill, pastor of the church in Wilmington; John French, pastor 
of a church in Andover; John Shaw, pastor of the First Cnurch in Haver- 
hill; Gyies Merrill, pastor of the church in Plaistow; Jonathan Fames, 
pastor of the church in Newton, N. H.; Samuel Webster, pastor of a 
church in Salisbury; Ehenezer Thayer, pastor of the church in Hampton; 
Thomas Gary, pastor of the First Church in Newburyport; John Andrew, 
junior pastor of the same church; Francis Webb, pastor of a church in 
Amesbury; Benjamin Thurston, pastor of a church in New Hampton; 
Samuel Langdon, D. D.; Samuel Haven, D. D.; James Miltemore, pastor 
of the church in Stratham." 

In early life Mr. Allen lost a portion of an arm, the result of a 
shooting accident. On the stump he always wore, when in the 
pulpit, a black silk mitten. Here an incident is permissible. Near 
the close of the day preceding his ordination, it occurred to the 
manager of the anticipated ceremonials that a silk glove was 
wanted for the sound hand. None could be found. Mrs. Bas- 
sett, the wife of John Bassett, the Quaker, had the reputation 
of being the most rapid knitter in town, and she was deputed to 
furnish the glove. She accomplished the task, and the required 
hand-covering was presented to Mr. Allen as he was entering the 
desk to be ordained. 

Mr. Allen was a good man with fair literary acquirements, and 
though not remarkable for pulpit oratory, maintained a creditable 
standing as a preacher. He was universally respected by his 
fellow-citizens, and during his ministry added a score of mem- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



301 



bers to the church of which he was pastor. No doubt his suc- 
cess would have been greater, had the people of Wolfeborough 
been in perfect agreement as to the support of the clergy. The 
care of a rapidly increasing family and the subduing of a forest 
farm required no small share of his attention. The following 
memoranda are still preserved in the handwriting of Mr. Allen : — 

"Copy of family record (date of marriage and 
birth of children) of Rev. Ebenezer Allen and Miss 
Bets Fern aid. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1796, Mr. Ebenezer Allen and Miss Bets Fernald 
were joined in marriage. 

On Tuesday, April 4, 1797, moved into Mr. Allen's house. 

On Tuesday, July 4, ,1797, Mrs. Allen was delivered of a daughter 
about 3 o'clock P. M. 1 he next morning, July 5, a little after daybreaking 
the child was baptized ,by the name of Lois. 

On Sunday, May 27, 1798, Mrs. Allen was delivered of another 
daughter about 10 o'clock in the morning. On Sunday, July 1, Mrs. Allen 
was admitted a member of the church and the child baptized by the name 
of Sarah. 

On Monday, Oct. 21, 1799, about ten minutes before 5 o'clock P. M. 
we had another daughter born. On Sunday, Nov. 17, the child was 
baptized by the name of Bets Ann. 

On Tuesday, May 5, 1801,, about thirty minutes past 9 o'clock P. M. 
we had a son born. On Sunday, June 17, the child was baptized by the 
name of Ebenezer. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1803, about thirty minutes past 6 o'clock 
A. M. we had another son born. On Sunday, ;Octo. 9, the child was 
baptized oy the name of David Tappan. 

On Friday, Feb. 22, 1805, about ten minutes rast 1 o'clock P. M. we 
had a third son born. On Sunday, May 26, the chila was baptized by the 
name of Alpheus Spring." 

The oldest child, Lois, weighed only one and a half pounds at 
birth. The father, fearing it would be short-lived, hastened to 
bring it ceremonially within the pale of the church. The child 
did live, however, and became a robust women of more than or- 
dinary size. She married Henry Veazie, of North Wolfeborough, 
a shoe-maker and whilom a taverner. Some of her children now 
live in Minnesota. 



^02 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Sarah, the second daughter, died in Boston many years ago. 
Bets Ann married Dr. Thomas J. Tebbetts, who was the eldest 
of a family of thirteen children born to Samuel Tebbetts, of 
Brooklield. He settled in North Wolfeborough in 1815, and re- 
mained there during his lifetime. Mrs. Tebbetts became the 
mother of eleven children, all of whom reached maturity, but are 
now, with the exception of G. W. O. Tebbetts, a pharmacist in 
Manchester, deceased. Several of them made their homes in 
Manchester, being either practicing physicians or druggists. 

Ebenezer married Mary, the daughter of Capt. James Nute, by 
whom he had several daughters and one son, George, who be- 
came a clergyman, dying young. Aiter the opening of the range- 
road from the town meeting-house to Wolfeborough Center and 
beyond, he erected buildings on that road. They are now oc- 
cupied by Frank B. Kenney. David Tappan has already been 
noticed. Alpheus Spring left home when young, was long ab- 
sent, and returned an invalid, dying among his early friends. 

Mr. Allen died of apoplexy Sunday, July 17, 1806, at the age 
of sixty years, having preached as usual in the forenoon. His 
wife died January 24, 1810, aged thirty-three years. They were 
buried in the cemetery near the town-meeting house. As the 
neighborhood has never become thickly populated, compartively 
few persons have been buried there, other places more con- 
venient for interment having been selected. The graves of Mr. 
and Mrs. Allen shared in the general neglect of the yard. The 
headstone was thrown down and broken, and so remained for 
many years. In 1899 Thomas L. Marden, a native and former 
resident of Wolfeborough, who now has his home in Lynn, Mass.. 
but annually visits the town, repaired and set up the headstone, 
being assisted in the undertaking by William Paris, grandson of 
the late Elder Cummins Paris. 

In the lives and environments of the town minister, Rev. 
Ebenezer Allen, and the contemporary minister of the town, 
Elder Isaac Townsend, were some striking similarities and some 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 303 

equally marked dififerences. The father of each was named 
Ebenezer, and each had a son of the same name. There was 
scarcely a twelvemonth's difference in the time of their coming 
to Wolfeborough. Each was ordained the same day, and mar- 
ried within the same year, although one was a first and the other 
a second marriage. The wives of both were much their juniors, 
and survived them. The farm of each was located on the borders 
of the same beautiful sheet of water, Lake Wentworth, Mr. 
Allen's being situated on the northwest and Mr. Townsend's on 
the southeast shore, distant from each other about six miles by 
land and three by water. 

These were the dififerences : Mr. Allen was physically disabled 
by the loss of his arm, while Mr. Townsend was a vigorous 
athlete ; the former received a collegiate training, the latter was 
uneducated ; in doctrine the one taught election, the other free 
grace ; in respect to the support of the ministry, the absorbing 
question in Wolfeborough in their day, one claimed that it was 
the province of the parish to provide a living for the pastor, even 
if it required coercive taxation, the other held that the minister 
should depend on the freewill offerings of his people and his owai 
personal efforts ; Mr. Allen at his death left six orphan children 
under ten years of age ; Mr. Townsend died childless. It is evi- 
dent that between the two men the most cordial relations existed, 
Mr. Allen officiating at the marriage of Mr. Townsend. 

Isaac Townsend was born in New Market, N. H., March 18, 
1756. He was early left an orphan, his father, a New Light 
preacher, dying when he was four years old, and his step-mother 
two years later. He then became for several years a member of 
the family of William Glidden, a brother of his step-mother. At 
the age of sixteen he bound himself an apprentice to John Tucker, 
of Berwick, Maine, a shoemaker and tanner, and there remained 
until he reached his majority. It was then the time of the Revo- 
lutionary War, and he enlisted on board the privateer Portsmouth. 
When five days out, this vessel was captured by the Experiment, 



204 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

a British fifty-gun ship, which took its prisoners to Halifax. 
There he remained several months before his release, which he al- 
ways regarded as providential. One day, while assisting in the 
burial of a fellow-prisoner, he was so greatly shocked by the pro- 
fanity and brutality of the soldier having the matter in charge that 
he prayed very earnestly, though silently, that he might soon be 
set at liberty and sent home. That night he dreamed that one 
came to him, assuring him that he would soon be released, and 
predicting to him some of the events of his future life, which ulti- 
mately did happen. The following morning he related his dream 
to his companions, and very confidently declared his conviction 
that it would be fulfilled, but they only ridiculed him. 

A few days after, a vessel appeared in the offing; this he de- 
clared would take him home, but he was told that his release was 
very improbable, as, even if the approaching vessel should prove 
to be a cartel, prisoners who had been held much longer than he 
would be first exchanged. He, however, was so confident, that 
he was to leave the place that he distributed the small sum of 
money which he possessed among his associates, and prepared 
for his departure. 

The vessel proved to be a cartel, and the proper officers pro- 
ceeded to an exchange of prisoners. The English prisoners had 
been delivered and the American selected ; Townsend was not 
among them. When the transfer of prisoners was nearly com- 
pleted, it was discovered that a miscount had been made ; two 
more Americans were wanting to fill the complement. The offi- 
cers who had charge of the business, observing Townsend, who 
was standing near, called him, took his name, and directed him to 
go aboard the cartel. While on his passage home, he was at- 
tacked with smallpox, and afterwards with fever and ague. He 
was much reduced by these diseases, and was confined at the hos- 
pital in Boston Harbor for some time. 

When he had partially recovered, he set out for New Hamp- 
shire, and in the course of a few months took up his residence in 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 305 

the first division of New Durham. Here, in 1779, he married 
Experience Allard of that town, who died in Wolfeborough in 
1795. Soon after his marriage he removed to the second division 
of New Durham, and commenced clearing land, remaining there 
until 1791, when he came to Wolfeborough, and purchased of 
Enoch Thomas the farm now owned by George W. Bassett and 
John L. Wiggin. This some years after he exchanged with 
Samuel Fox for one in Pleasant Valley, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life. In 1796 he married Lydia Evans. They had 
one son, who died when about twelve years old. 

jMr. Townsend began to preach while living in New Durham, 
but was not a pastor until he came to Wolfeborough. He held 
that relation to the First Freewill Baptist Church in Wolfe- 
borough for about forty-five years, and was nominally such from 
the time of his ordination until his death, nearly fifty-four years. 
His ministerial labors were mostly confined to the towns in which 
he lived, although he traveled a little in other towns. By industry 
and frugality he acquired a fair property, the most of which he 
bequeathed for religious and benevolent purposes. 

Mr. Townsend's school advantages were very limited, yet he 
became quite an acceptable public speaker, being very con- 
versant with the Scriptures. After some years of illness he died 
August 30, 1846, lacking about four months of being ninety years 
old. His remains were, at the time of his death, interred in a 
burial-place which he had reserved on his home farm. They 
have, within a few years been removed to the cemetery on North 
Main Street. The lot in which he and his entire family are buried 
was donated by him, while owning the Enoch Thomas farm, to 
the Freewill Baptist Society as a place for burial. The society, 
however, never claimed it, as, after Mr. Townsend removed from 
the neighborhood, few of his adherents located there. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Churches and other Religious Organizations — First 
Church organized — Christian Churches established 
IN 1812 AND 1822 — Co-workers Fernald and Townsend 
AND their Followers — Stephen Coffin — Allen's 
Church — John P. Cleveland — The First Sunday- 
school — The Academy Chapel finished — Thomas P. 
Beach — Dr. Jeremiah Blake — The Methodists — The 
Friends — The Universalists — The Unitarians — The 
Adventjsts — The Catholics — Location of Churches. 

THE first church organized in Wolfeborough was the Freewill 
Baptist. Its organization took place on the nineteenth day of 
October, 1792, at the house of William Rogers in the following 
manner: A committee from the New Durham church, the first 
one of the order, with its pastor, Elder Benjamin Randall, founder 
of the Freewill Baptist denomination, appeared at the place by 
appointment. After introductory religious services a missive let- 
ter from the church in New Durham to the persons assembled 
was read by Elder Randall. It contained the covenant and rules 
of government of that church. The committee was then invited 
to assist in embodying a church of the persons presenting them- 
selves for that purpose. John Snell related his religious experi- 
ence, and was baptized by Elder Randall. Mr. Snell, though 
never formally acknowledged as a minister, preached consid- 
erably. He was the grandfather of John L. Wiggin, of this town. 
The persons assembled, Isaac Townsend, Benjamin Libbey, Wil- 
liam Rust, Jesse Whitten, John Snell, Thomas Chase, Experience 
Townsend, and Tabitha Chase, then adopted by vote and sub- 
scription this 
306 






; X. 








'•^> 








i 










s^y'^^vs! 


;■«,'.<, 




'rj,2< 




r^<< 











I 
u 
a. 

D 
I 
U 

_l 
< 

z 
o 

I- 
< 
o 

QC 

O 

o 
u 



X 

o 

X 

o 

z 
< 

I- 

00 

q: 

X 

o 



X 

o 

D 
I 

o 



Q- 
< 

CO 



cc 



X 

o 

IT 

D 
I 
O 

z 
< 

< 

Z 
3 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



COVENANT. 



307 



"We whose names are here underwritten, feeUng the spirit of 
adoption whereby we cry 'Abba Father' though most unworthy, 
and by his grace having a fellowship with each other as brethren 
of one family and children of one Father, finding our souls knit 
together like Diavid and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi — believing 
it for the declarative glory of God, our Heavenly Father, that we 
should embody and walk in the ordinances of our Lord Jesus 
Christ : do now, in this solemn manner, in the fear of God, calling 
on him for his aid and assistance, covenant together and promise, 
by grace, to walk in the ordinances and commands of our Lx)rd 
Jesus Christ, as we do or shall understand. We will take the 
Scriptures of truth, which we believe to be an unerring rule, for 
the rule of our practice in our conversation, dealing, and com- 
merce ; and if any of us are convicted of not walking according 
thereto, or of violating thereof, we shall be deemed disorderly, 
and be dealt with as such, as the aforesaid rule shall direct." 

At the same time ten persons joined with the eight members 
of the church in declaring themselves members of a Baptist Soci- 
ety. On the twenty-fifth day of the month Mr. Townsend was 
ordained. November eighth a monthly meeting was held at the 
house of Isaac Townsend, and William Lucas and Mary Rogers 
related their experience for baptism. Three days later the rite 
was administered by Elder Townsend, and they became members 
of the church. On the twenty-third day of the month the Lord's 
Supper was celebrated. A monthly meeting was established, be- 
ing held either at the dwelling of Elder Townsend or that of Wil- 
liam Rogers. William Lucas was chosen clerk of the church, 
probably holding the office until 1797, when Israel Piper suc- 
ceeded him. About this time some steps were taken to raise 
money for what was termed a church stock, to meet emergencies. 
Israel Piper was appointed treasurer. Of the small sum raised 
Elder Townsend received the principal part. 

For some years the records of the church were quite imperfect. 



3o8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



During the decade following its organization it appears that 
Townsend preached quite regularly, and that the monthly meet- 
ings were usually held, though varying considerably in interest. 
The number of persons who became members of the church dur- 
ing that period cannot be exactly determined, but it was evidently 
quite small. In 1804 Israel Piper was succeeded as clerk by Neal 
Gate. 

About 1800 there seems to have been increased interest in that 
portion of the church located in the easterly part of the town. At 
a monthly meeting held August 13, 1801, Valentine Wormwood 
was chosen deacon, and it was voted to build a meeting-house, 
the Baptists and Methodists uniting in the undertaking. The 
building committee consisted of Thomas Cotton, John Snell, 
Valentine Wormwood, Charles Stanton, and Josiah Allen, resi- 
dents of Brookfield and Wolfeborough. It was erected on the 
border-line between the two towns. There it remained until about 
1850, when it was replaced by another of more modern style, but 
constructed by similar joint action of the same societies. 

From the death of Mr. Allen in 1806, for nearly or quite thirty 
years Mr. Townsend was the only resident ordained minister in 
the town, and for a short period the Baptist was the only church 
organization. Preachers of dififerent denominations bestowed 
some labor on the town, but did not settle as pastors. Mr. Town- 
send depended almost entirely upon his own manual labor for 
his support, and consequently could do little more than attend 
to the most pressing calls of the ministerial office. 

May 25, 1793, Susannah Lucas was baptized and united with 
the church, and between that date and the year 1800 Isaac Jones, 
Polly Jones, Stephen Fall, Jonathan Brown, Israel Piper, and 
Lydia Allard became members. There was more than usual 
religious interest in the community near the beginning of the 
nineteenth century, and Reuben Daniells, Richard Marden, Neal 
Gate, John Lary, Isaac Willey, Valentine Wormwood, Thomas 
Cotton, Josiah Willey, Thomas Frost, Jane Gate, Lydia Town- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 309 

send, Hannah Whitten, Susannah Rust, Sally Willey, Betsy 
Wormwood, Dolly Willey, Charlotte Clark, Mary Hawkins, and 
Hannah Clough united with the church. 

About 181 1 Elder Mark Fernald, of Kittery, Maine, a minister 
of the Christian denomination, visited Wolfeborough. He had 
been a sailor, but, becoming religious, commenced preaching. 
Somewhat eccentric, with a rugged eloquence and fearless zeal, he 
was attractive to the masses, and soon had a large following. 
Elder Townsend labored in accord with him, and their combined 
efforts resulted in the profession of piety by a large number of 
persons. As the two ministers belonged to different denomina- 
tions, it was deemed advisable to baptize the converts and not 
connect them with any church immediately. In 1812 a Christian 
Church was organized, and a portion of the baptized persons 
united with it. Others joined the Baptists, and still others did 
not connect themselves with any religious organization. In 1820 
the Freewill Baptist Church had fifty members, in 1843 ^^^ hun- 
dred and twenty, and in 1900 ninety-seven. 

Until about 1830 most of the ministerial work done in Wolfe- 
borough outside the limits of Smith's Bridge village was by 
Elders Fernald and Townsend. The town meeting-house was 
free to any minister of the Gospel, and these two clergymen or 
their occasional co-adjutors usually occupied it in the warm 
season. Whoever might speak from the pulpit, the pews held 
the same audience. With a few of the ministers of the Christian 
and Freewill Baptist denominations in Wolfeborough and its 
vicinity, there was some difference of opinions, but not very 
marked. The laity were essentially one in faith and practice. 
Elder John T. G. Colby, who was for nearly thirty years pastor of 
the Christian Churches in Wolfeborough said, "The two denomi- 
nations should have been one." Elder Mark Fernald, in his 
memoirs, says of a meeting which he attended in Wolfeborough, 
July 4, 1847, "I" monthly conference at a neighborhood where 
the Christian and Freewill Baptist brethren held their conference 



210 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

together, twenty-eight persons spoke, and none could tell who 
belonged to either by their communications or spirit. It was 
good." 

About 1830 Hiram Holmes and Jesse Header came to Wolfe- 
borough, and held many meetings. Meader in a few months 
went to Brookfield, Holmes remained in Wolfeborough several 
years, and was for a while co-pastor with Elder Townsend, who 
had become very infirm. In 1833 he identified himself with the 
Second Freewill Baptist Church, which was at that time set off 
from the first church for local convenience. John Chick after- 
wards became the pastor of the old church, and resided in Wolfe- 
borough for a while. 

In 1840 the present church building was erected at a cost of 
about one thousand dollars. The building committee consisted 
of Robert Wiggin, Stephen Cofifin, Daniel Whitten, Jesse Whit- 
ten, Jr., and Stephen S. Bean. It was dedicated in the autumn 
of the same year. Elder Daniel P. Cilley, of Pittsfield, preaching 
on the occasion, and Elder Mark Fernald and other ministers 
taking part in the dedicatory exercises. Its interior has been 
several times remodeled, and in 1881 it was thoroughly repaired 
by an assessment upon the pew-owners. In 1888 some horse- 
sheds near the church were burned, and the rear end of that 
building damaged by fire. Largely through the efforts of the 
acting pastor, Rev. Lincoln Given, an endeavor was made to 
essentially change the structure of the house. The Freewill Bap- 
tist State Mission Society pledged conditionally for that purpose 
three hundred dollars, and gifts to the amount of more than one 
hundred dollars were contributed by sundry persons. The balance 
of about eighteen hundred dollars was donated by the proprietors 
of the house and the friends of the society. A bell tower with an 
entry was erected at the front of the main building and a vestry at 
the rear ; the audience-room was somewhat enlarged, and other 
changes made without incurring any debt. About 1857 a row of 
maple trees was set around the meeting-house lot by Rev. Levi 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



311 



Brackett, Daniel Whitten, and B. F. Parker. Vandalism and the 
elements have destroyed all but two of them. These are quite 
ornamental, and bear the names of the two deceased planters, 
Brackett and Whitten. 

In 1841 a Sunday School was established, and B. F. Parker 
elected superintendent. The school had eight teachers, fifty-seven 
members, and a library of eighty small volumes. In 1862 Alvah 
S. Libbey was elected superintendent, but soon entered the army, 
and B. F. Parker was again placed in charge. He occupied the 
position about five years, when I. B. Manning took the place, and 
by repeated elections filled it for twenty-five years. The present 
superintendent is Edwin J. Libbey. 

This church is, by twenty years, the oldest in Wolfeborough, 
being established in 1792, while the next in point of time now 
existing is the Christian which was organized in 181 2. It has had 
in all about three hundred members. 

Here is a list of the ministers licensed or ordained while they 
were members of the church. John Cooley came from Ossipee, 
and remained in town but a few years. He was licensed in 1832, 
and ordained in 1835. Stephen Cofifin came from Alton at middle 
age, purchasing the farm now owned by Mrs. Jethro Furbur. 
He became religious in early life, and frequently held public 
meetings. He was so fearful of sectarianism that he did not 
for several years unite with any church, affiliating mostly with 
the Christian and Freewill Baptist denominations, although 
readily fraternizing with any other religious people. After resid- 
ing in Wolfeborough a few years, he became a member of the 
Freewill Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach in 1840, 
and ordained in 1841. Fie continued evangelical work a part of 
the time until old age, traveling extensively in Maine and New 
Hampshire and considerably in Massachusetts. He was neither 
erudite nor eloquent, but probably benefited humanity more than 
some who possessed a higher order of cultivated talent. A son 
of his, Lorenzo S. Cofifin, who was reared in Wolfeborough, and 



OI2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 

a member of the same church as was his father, is now a resident 
of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He is a thrifty farmer, and has been con- 
siderably in public life, holding state official positions in the in- 
terests of agriculture and railroad employees. A. few miles from 
his city home he has built a small free church, in which he 
preaches. 

William Kent Lucas, a native of the town, was a person of 
mediocre talent, but of strict integrity and fervid piety. Licensed 
in 1841 and ordained in 1842, he became a pastor of the Second 
Freewill Baptist Church in Wolfeborough. He was an invalid 
much of his life, yet lived to be an octogenarian. 

Jonathan McDuffee Brewster, a nephew of John Brewster, 
Wolfeborough's liberal benefactor, was reared in Wolfeborough. 
He was licensed to preach by the Wolfeborough Quarterly Meet- 
ing, and ordained after his removal beyond its limits. He had 
a collegiate and theological training, and was a fine scholar. For 
several years he was assistant editor of "The Morning Star," 
the Freewill Baptist denominational organ. His death occurred 
'several years ago, while pastor of a church in Providence, Rhode 
Island. 

J. Frank Lock came from Ossipee. He was licensed while 
preaching at Wolfeborough, and ordained after he left the town. 

Elder Cummins Paris was born in Tunbridge, Vt., September 
24, 18 10, being the son of Levi Samuel Paris. For more than a 
half-century Elder Paris lived and wrought in Wolfeborough, and 
no man had more or stauncher friends. In his prime he was a 
strong force in the Free Baptist denomination, but his ministra- 
tions were not confined to the members of that faith. He was 
the mentor and comforter of all who came within the influence 
of his strong personality. 

Mr. Paris had no early educational advantages. He was 
"bound out" to a farmer at the age of five years, with whom he 
remained until he was eighteen. He then went to Lowell, worked 
for a time on the old Middlesex canal, and v.'as there when the 




ELDER CUMMINS PARIS 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 313 

first railroad in New England was built. About this time he first 
became interested in religious matters, and decided to obtain an 
education if possible. 

At the age of twenty-one he married Miss Eliza Martin, of 
Springfield, N. H., and then moved to Strafiford, where he at- 
tended school. Up to this time he was unable to either read or 
write. One of his classmates here was Eleazer D. Barker, of 
Wolfeborough. After fitting himself in the Strafford schools, he 
took a theological course at the Parsonsfield (Me.) Seminary. 
He was also a member of the first Biblical school of the Free 
Baptist denomination. 

His first parish was at Eaton in 1841, then Alexandria, where 
he was very successful until his pronounced abolitionist views 
lessened his popularity. He then preached at Andover. Wake- 
field, and Ossipee, and for ten years occupied the pulpit of the 
Wolfeborough Falls church. 

Elder Paris was always the student. After retiring from active 
pastoral duties, he kept pace with the advance in religious thought, 
and urtil failing powers darkened his mental vision, was one of 
the profoundest thinkers Wolfeborough has ever known. His 
death, which occurred July 4, 1898, was soon followed by that of 
his devoted wife, who had, during all the years of their loiig 
wedded life, been more than a helpmeet to him. 

The pastors and stated ministers of the church following John 
Chick have been Enoch T. Prescott, Oliver Butler, Cumins Paris, 
Henry F. Snow, Silas F. Bean. Tobias Foss, Uriah Chase, 
Elbridge G. York, O. F. Russell, J. Frank Lock, H. F. Dickey, 
G. C. Andrews, A. D. Fairbanks, Daniel Wheeler, Ira Emery, 
C. L. Plummer, ?I. B. Huntoon, Lincoln Given, A. H. MilHken, 
F. E. Carver, and A. M. Freeman. The deacons have been 
Thomas Chase, Valentine Wormwood, Thomas Cotton, Peltiah 
Lord, Hamilton Locke, Benjamin F. Parker, Samuel W. Teth- 
erly, and Edward J. Libbey ; and the clerks, Isaac Townsend, 



^I^ HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

William Lucas, Israel Piper, Neal Gate, Hiram Holmes, Daniel 
Whitten, Hamilton Lock, and Benjamin F. Parker. 

On the two absorbing moral questions of the last half-century — 
abolition and temperance — this church has generally occupied 
an advanced position. Its doors have opened to the advocates 
of either of these causes, even when it was at some sacrifice. In 
1842 a resolution was passed disapproving of tlie use of intoxi- 
cants, and thenceforth only unfermented liquors were brought 
to the communion table. In 1848 a new covenant was adopted 
which forbade the use of distilled liquors by members of the 
church. 

October 25, 1792, on the day of Mr. Allen's ordination, and 
six days after the organization of the Freewill Baptist Church, a 
Congregational Church was organized in the presence of the 
ordaining council. Here is an extract from its constitution 
adopted at the time : — 

"Persons who believe the Christian religion, and in the judg- 
ment of charity lead moral lives, shall, on professing their faith, 
and promising obedience, be entitled to baptism, either for them- 
selves or their children, provided that none shall be entitled to 
baptism for their children who shall not have been previously 
baptized themselves. — who shall not also promise to bring up 
such children in the nature and admonition of the Lord, to teach 
them their duty, and display before them in their own conduct 
examples of piety and virtue." 

The following persons signed this constitution : Joshua Haines, 
Henry Rust, Ithiel Clifford, John Shortridge, Samuel Tibbetts, 
WilHam Cotton, Andrew Wiggin, and Jacob Smith. Afterwards 
the following members were added to the church: in 1793, Sarah 
Martin, Hannah Martin, William Warren, Phoebe Young, Han- 
nah Rust, Hannah Horn, and Deborah Folsom ; in 1794, James 
Fernald, Mary Horn, and Abigail Shortridge; in 1796, Anna 
Young; in 1798, Betsy Allen and Margaret Shortridge; in 1799, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 315 

Benjamin Xudd and Mary Chamljerlin ; in 1800, Martha y\dams ; 
in 1801, Elizabeth Stoddard and Lucy Keniston. The year fol- 
lowing the organization of the church Henry Rust and Andrew 
Wiggin were appointed deacons. 

The records of the church having been accidently destroyed, 
a reliable history of it has not been preserved. During Mr. 
Allen's lifetime it probably fairly prospered. After his death 
nothing of its doings is known, and it probably ceased to be an 
effective organization. Occasionally, but very rarely, Congre- 
gational ministers visited the town and preached. Among them 
was Curtis Coe, of Durham, and a Mr. Grey, of Dover. 

The Christian denomination had its origin at about the same 
time as did the Methodist and Freewill Baptist. Its founders, 
prominent among whom was Elias Smith, purposed to bring 
about a union of all the followers of Christ ; and hence adopted 
no elaborate system of rules or theoretical tenets, but allowed its 
members their own individual interpretation of Scripture. To 
believe in Christ and practice His precepts as personally under- 
stood was all that was required of them. As did the early Metho- 
dists, they generally practised immersion, and this has occa- 
sioned the adjunct "Baptist" to be sometimes attached to their 
name, but they have never adopted and do not now acknowledge 
it. With their avowed object, the union of all religious sects, 
there was some propriety in applying the general term Christian 
to a particular body of believers. Yet it at first occasioned some 
criticism, which, however, was not of long duration. Elder Fer- 
nald, though quite liberal, had his preferences, and held tena- 
ciously to the name and simple form of organization which he 
adopted in establishing churches. 

The First Christian Church in Wolfeborough was organized 
January 3, 1812. Its members at the organization were George 
Yeaton, Levi Mason, Polly Clififord, Eleanor Rust, Betsy Keay, 
and Hannah Doe. The following persons were soon added to its 



3i6 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



membership: Bradstreet Doe, Sally Pinkham, Nathaniel Rust, 
Martha Thurston, Pamelia Welsh, Elizabeth Banfield, Joseph 
Leavitt, Phebe Leavitt, William Gate, Betsy Gate, Abigail Tib- 
betts, Ann Dealing, and Mary F. Warren. 

Elder Mark Fernald was pastor of the church until 1838, when 
he was succeeded by Elder John T. G. Golby, a native of Ossipee. 
Mr. Colby spent most of his active ministerial life in Wolfe- 
borough as pastor of one or the other of the two Ghristian 
Churches in the town. He owned and occupied for about twenty 
years a small farm situated near Randall's Corner. He was not 
a remarkably eloquent preacher, yet was quite acceptable as a 
public speaker — a truly good and useful man. In advanced age 
he removed to Dover. There being no church of the Ghristian 
denomination in that town, he united with the Freewill Baptists. 

As has already been intimated, the more common place of 
holding Sabbath meetings in the summer was the town meeting- 
house, but upon the approach of cold weather schoolhouses were 
utilized for that purpose. Among those thus occupied were the 
"Wiggin," "below the Bridge," the "Blake," "above the Bridge," 
by the Christians ; the "Brick," located near the present site of 
the creamery, by the Freewill Baptists ; the "Rines" and the 
"Townsend," in Pleasant A'alley, by the Christians and Free- 
will Baptists. George O. Cotton, a native of Wolfeborough and 
a local Methodist minister, preached at the Pine Hill schoolhouse 
every fourth Sabbath for nearly a score of years. After the 
erection of the Academy building the Congregationalists wor- 
shipped in that until their meeting-house was built. The school- 
house in Pleasant Valley, formerly the "Townsend," has been 
more used for religious worship than any other in Wolfeborough, 
perhaps than all others. During the forties several meeting- 
houses were built in dififerent neighborhoods, which took the 
places of the small, inconvenient schoolhouses. As none was 
erected in Pleasant Valley, the continued occupancy of that 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



317 



schoolhouse was necessary. It has been enlarged, and is still 
used for religious meetings. 

Elder Fernald was a hardy, athletic man, and an indefatigable 
worker. This is evident from his manner of life. His home was 
in Kittery, Maine, yet he itinerated much in Wolfeborough, Tuf- 
tonborough, Ossipee, and other adjacent towns, visiting them 
several times a year. Sometimes he would arrive at Wolfeborough 
past the mid-day hour, unannounced, stopping as usual at the 
house of Deacon John Folsom, whose wife, the energetic Hannah, 
would soon have her son Blake on the road with this verbal 
message ; "Elder Fernald will preach at the schoolhouse to- 
night at early candle-light." In a district two or three miles in 
extent, implements of labor would be seasonably laid aside, and 
at the appointed hour the schoolhouse would be filled with 
people eager to hear the messages of love and good counsel 
which the minister had brought in his head and his heart — not 
in his pocket. 

In 1838 the Christian Society erected a meeting-house, locating 
it where now stands the residence of Augustine A. Fullerton. 
It was dedicated September 25, 1838. This house was con- 
veniently located at the time of its erection, was for years well- 
filled, and in it have been witnessed scenes of greater religious 
enthusiasm than in any other in the town. But time makes 
changes in most human afifairs, and the period arrived when it 
was deemed advisable to establish the headquarters of the Chris- 
tian Society at the Bridge village. In 1858 this house was taken 
down, and one erected at the village below at a cost of fifteen 
hundred dollars. The first meeting-house was built by Joseph 
Edmonds, probably at some personal sacrifice. He and a few of 
his neighbors were not pleased with its demolition, and did not 
follow the main body of worshippers to the village. The act of 
removal was undoubtedly politic for the society. In 1892 an 
addition was made to the new church building at a cost of one 
thousand dollars. 



3i8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



The pastors of the First Christian Church, since John T. G. 
Colby, have been Thomas Bartlett, Seth Hinckley, William H. 
Nason, James Rowell, Lewis Phillips, Samuel B. Bowditch, Lewis 
Phillips, Charles P. Smith, Lewis Phillips, L. H. Phillips, Thomas 
S. Weeks, Manford D. Wolfe, Prentice A. Canada, E. R. McCord 

and Hornbaker. Its deacons haye been Nathaniel Rust, 

John Folsom, David Blake, James Home, Enoch Haley, Benja- 
min Morrison, Jacob P. Garland, Joshua Richardson ; and its 
clerks, Daniel A. Wiggin, David Blake, Charles G. Tebbetts, A. 
A. Fullerton, William Rogers. There have been about three 
hundred persons connected with the church, and its members now 
number about seventy-five. 

In the spring of 1840 a remarkable religious interest prevailed 
in the church and society. On the third day of May thirty-six 
persons received the rite of baptism. In 1844 ten persons left 
the church, assigning these reasons : "First, we consider all the 
nominal churches Babylon, and are commanded to come out 
(see Rev. 28: 4); secondly, we view ourselves as unequally 
yoked together with unbelievers, and that the time has arrived 
for these bonds to be broken (see 2 Cor. 6: 14 — 17) ; thirdly, 
we believe that on the tenth day of the seventh month, which is 
either the twenty-second or twenty-third of October, that this 
world will be on fire, and Babylon will be destroyed." 

The Second Christian Church was organized January 10, 1822, 
at the house of John Burley, of Ossipee, by Elder Mark Fernald. 
It was declared to be "a church of Christ, with no other covenant 
than the name of Christ, His Spirit and word to unite and keep," 
of the society called "Christians." Its members resided in the 
west part of Ossipee and the east and central parts of Wolfe- 
borough. The charter members of the church were Benjamin 
Prebble, George Stevens, Valentine Willey, Dudley Chamberlin, 
Stephen Burke, Polly Prebble, Sally Hyde, Margaret Hyde, 
Betsy Smith, Abigail Willey, Catherine Tebbetts, Jemima Triggs. 
A few months later Joanna Chamberlin, Abigail Chamberlin, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



319 



and Mahala Judkins were admitted as members. In 1850 over 
one hundred persons had united with the church. 

Elder Fernald was pastor until 1826. when Joseph Banfield, 
a son of Tobias Banfield, succeeded him. Mr. Banfield had a 
residence in the neighborhood of the town meeting-house, and 
became locally very popular. He was for four years in succession 
town clerk. In 1831 he resigned the pastoral office, removed 
from the town, and united with another denomination. He was 
the father of the late Everett C. Banfield. He was succeeded by 
Elder John T. G. Colby. About 1850 Elder Samuel Nutt became 
resident pastor of the church. Other ministers have labored 
with it more or less. In later years Elder Daniel A. Wiggin, 
of Tuftonborough, ministered somewhat to its religious neces- 
sities. 

In 1 84 1 a union church building was erected at Wolfeborough 
Center at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. A majority of 
the pew-owners gave preference to the Christian denomination ; 
the next larger share favored the Freewill Baptist. Perfect har- 
mony prevailed in the construction and allotment of the building. 
It was dedicated November 1 1 , with the following exercises : 
Invocation liy Enos. G. Page, Methodist ; reading of the Scrip- 
tures by Jeremiah Blake, Congregationalist ; reading of hymn 
by Horace Webber, Freewill Baptist ; dedicatory prayer by Paul 
Reynolds, sermon by Mark Fernald, both Christian ; concluding 
prayer by John Chick, Freewill Baptist. Fourteen ministers were 
present. In the afternoon Horace Webber preached. The house 
of worship is still in good repair, but the population of the region 
has become so sparse that it is difficult to sustain regular religious 
services. The deacons of the church have been Valentine Willey, 
Mark A. Young, and Frank B. Canney, Mr. Willey acting in that 
capacity for about half a century. Mr. Willey also served as 
clerk for many years. A union Sunday School was orsfanized. 
and flourished for some years. 

In 1833 fifteen members of the First Freewill Baptist Church 



320 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVQH, 

in Wolfeborough were set off from that body that they might be 
organized into another of the same denomination. For a few 
years the church made but Httle gain. After that for about two 
decades it was fairly prosperous, having in 1845 seventy mem- 
bers ; it has now about half a score. It is located in the easterly 
part of Wolfeborough, where the population, always sparse, is 
now much less than formerly. 

The Methodists and Baptists in the neighborhood have always 
affiliated. At the present time a Methodist preacher ministers 
to a small congregation on the Sabbath in connection with ser- 
vices at other localities. The pastors of the church have been 
Hiram Holmes, John C. Holmes, and for many years, William 
Fv. Lucas. Other ministers have preached for it at different 
tmies, but have not been pastors. Its deacons have been Valen- 
tine Wormwood, Thomas Cotton, Thomas Cotton, Jr., Timothy 
Y. Cotton, and George Gage. Hiram Holmes, John F. Cotton, 
and Timothy Y. Cotton have been its clerks. The society owns 
jointly with the Methodists a good, but not expensive, house of 
worship. 

After the death of Mr. x^llen in 1806, there is no record of 
preaching by Congregationalists until 1820, although it seems 
quite piobable that occasionally a minister of that order maght 
visit the town. There was no place for public gatherings where 
now Ihe compact part of Wolfeborough village is previous to 
1820. The nearest place south of Smith's River was the Wip-gin 
schoolhouse, about one mile distant. Here ministers of different 
persuasions would sometimes preach, and probably occasionally, 
though rather infrequently, they would be Congregationalists. 

In the autumn of 182 1 John P. Cleveland, who afterwards be- 
came a distinguished clergyman, commenced teaching at the 
Academy. He preached some, and in 1822 or 1823 established a 
Sunday-school, the first organized in the town. James Towner 
followed him as teacher; he, too, was a preacher. Some other 
teachers probably conducted religious services. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



321 



In the summer of 1827 the upper story of the Academy building 
was finished for a chapel for the use of the citizens at a cost of 
two hundred and twenty-two dollars, Nathaniel Rogers being 
the contractor. Forty-three pews were sold at prices varying 
from three dollars and fifty cents to seven dollars and seventy- 
five cents, the sum realized from the sale being two hundred and 
eighteen dollars. The purchasers of pews were : George Brew- 
ster, Samuel Connor, David T. Livy, Joseph Clark, Samuel 
Avery, Benjamin Tebbetts, Daniel Pickering, Henry B. Rust, 
Thomas Rust, Henry R. Parker, Luther Varney, Samuel Fox, 
William Guppy, William P. Edgerly, Joseph Edmonds, Henry 
Rust, jr., Joshua Connor, Nathaniel Rogers, George F. Brev»'ster, 
James Downs, Stephen Giles, Enos Bean, John Horn, Jeremiah 
Connor, Samuel Meader, David Fullerton. A majority of the pew- 
owners were Congregationalists, and ministers of that denomma- 
tion generally occupied the pulpit. 

June 17, 1834, a Congregational Church of twelve members 
was organized. Their names were Benjamin Young, Rebecca 
Young, Daniel Pickering, Sarah C. Pickering, George B. Farrar, 
Susan M. Farrar, Mehitable J. Farrar, Eunice Piper, Abigail 
Connor, Amy W. Connor, Sarah Meader, Mary Avery. Within 
the year the following persons united with the church : David 
T. Livy, Lucinda P. Livy, Thomas Rust, Phoebe C. Rust, John 
Fox, Elizabeth A. Fox, George W. Warren, Calvin Batchelder, 
George R. Mason, Sarah B. P. Mason, Betsy Warren, Ann E. 
Avery, Eleanor J. Rogers, Susan Piper, Annette A. Livy, Har- 
riet Clark, Charles Duren, Moses Seavey. Thomas Parnell 
Beach, preceptor of the Academy, was chosen pastor, and con- 
tinued to serve in that capacity about two and a half years. 
After his departure some students from Gilmanton Theological 
Seminary held meetings which resulted in the awakening of much 
religious zeal. Then followed Dr. Jeremiah Blake, who had 
been for some years a practising physician in Gilmanton, but had 
become a student at the Theological Seminary in that town. Hav- 



222 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

ing completed his preparatory studies, he came to Wolfeborough, 
and November i, 1838, was ordained as pastor of the church. He 
at fiist came to the town with other students, and to use his own 
language, says : — 

"My mind was wonderfully drawn to the place. For a long time I 
seemed to see a field of wheat extending from.Moultonborough to Brook- 
field. This wheat had very full heads, all leaning toward the east, /and 
'white for the harvest.' This field was before me by day and by night, 
and the feeling was very strong that I must assist in reaping it. In the 
winter of 1839-40, God in His all-wise providence opened the way for 
me to reap this field. I aeld a meeting in Tuftonborough, and thus began 
at the upper end of the field, and reaped, grain as it leaned to the east. 
The good work soon spread through Moultonborough, Tuftonborough, 
and then into Wolfeborough. The, first manifestations here were at the 
Bridge. It spread to Wolfeborough Center, the farm road, and, last, to 
South Wolfeborough. This revival continued almost two years. By 
the assistance of Deacons Rust, Fox, Ayers, and others, I was enabled 
to labor in Tuftonborough, North, Wolfeborough, Alton, Middleton, Farm- 
ington, Milton, Wakefield, Effingham, Moultonborough, Tamworth, 
Centre Harbor, and Newfield, Maine. In all these places God was pour- 
ing out his Spirit. The field of wheat was now reaped and laid in bundles 
to be bound and shocked. As fruits of this revival, , a Congregational 
church wasformed in Tuftonborough, and another in North Wolfeborough, 
and a ,meeting-house builded there. During this revival all denomina- 
tions were united as the heart of one man, and converts were added to 
each of them. My five years in Wolfeborough are among the brightest 
spots in my life." 

During this revival a series of meetings was held at the town 
meeting-house. This was the only time that the building was 
artificially heated. Stoves were set up, the funnels projecting 
through the windows. 

Dr. Blake was not very learned nor very eloquent, but he was 
an earnest worker and could read men as well as books. He 
accomplished more for the church during his pastorate than any 
other minister it ever had, sixty-one members being added to it 
through his agency. 

Rev. Jeffries Hall succeeded Dr. Blake as pastor, having at 
the same time charge of the Academy. His special mission ap- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



323 



pears to have been the securing- of a house of worship for the 
church so much enlarged by his predecessor. By unflagging zeal 
and continued earnest labor, which he extended to Massachusetts, 
he accomplished his purpose, and on the twenty-sixth day of 
January, 1847. ^i^*^ the satisfaction of preaching the sermon at 
the dedicatory exercises of an edifice costing about twelve 
hundred dollars — the resultant product of his own personal efforts 
and the friendly action of near-by and more distant contribu- 
tors. 

The successors of Rev. Mr. Hall in the pastoral office have 
been Nelson Barbour, Sumner Clark, John Wood, Leander 
Thompson, Thomas A. Emerson, Robert B. Hall, George H. 
Tilton, Henry Kctchem, George W. Christie, Joseph A. Tom- 
linson, Theodore C. Jerome, Edgar F. Davis, Cecil F. Harper, 
Calvin M. Clark, Richard T. Wilton, and Edgar F. Warren. 
Leander Thompson, whose wife was Ann Eliza, daughter of 
Samuel Avery, was a returned missionary. Under the adminis- 
tration of Mr. Emerson the church building was repaired and 
refurnished. It was rededicated Aug 4, 1872. A semi-centennial 
anniversary of the organization of the church was observed June 
17, 1884. Rev. Jeremiah Blake gave an historical address, and 
Moses T. Cate read a summary of its history. Rev. Theodore 
C. Jerome and three of his children were mysteriously drowned 
May 28, 1886, about one mile from Wolfeborough village in 
Lake Winnipesaukee. The deacons of the church have been 
Thomas Rust, Joshua P. Ayers, Charles F. Parker, Buel C. 
Carter, Nathaniel H. Scott, and Samuel A. Meader; and its 
clerks. Thomas Rust. Moses T. Cate, Alexander H. Durgin, 
Samuel Avery, and Charles S. Phillips. The church has had 
about three hundred members, and its present number is about 
one hundred and twelve. 

The Congregational Church at North Wolfeborough was 
largely one of the results of the Dr. Blake revival. Some thirty 
persons in the neighborhood were converted in a protracted 



224 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

meeting held in April, 1839, ^Y Dr. Blake, several theological 
students and two Methodist ministers. One of the students, 
Robert Fuller, commenced preaching there. June 13, 1829, a 
church was organized by a council composed of Rev. John S. 
Winter and Deacon Daniel Smith, of the church in Ossipee ; Rev. 
Joshua Dodge, from the church in Moultonborough ; Rev. 
Nathaniel Barker, from the church in Wakefield ; Rev. S. H. 
Merrill, from the church in Center Harbor ; Rev. Giles Leach 
and Mr. James Fullerton, from Sandwich ; Deacon Thomas Rust 
and Deacon John Fox, from Wolfeborough Bridge. November 
13, Thomas J. Tebbetts and Richard Bickford were chosen 
deacons. September 24, 1843, Rev. J. Dodlt was installed as 
pastor of the church. November 29, 1848, his pastoral relation 
ceased, and at the end of one year Rev. Stephen Merrill, a native 
of Conway, became pastor and continued such until his death, 
which occurred in June, i860. Rev. Horace Wood had charge 
of the church from 1863 to 1866, preaching one-half the time. 
Since then, the church has not had a resident pastor, but has 
had preaching a portion of the time by theological students. 
Thomas L. Whitton has served as deacon. The church has had 
in all fifty members ; the present number is nine. The population 
of the neighborhood is very sparse, and very few persons attend 
the infrequent meetings of worship. 

October 29, 1840, a union church building, largely owned by 
Congregationalists, was dedicated. Rev. John Winter, of Ossipee, 
making the dedicatory prayer and Rev. John Mordough preach- 
ing the sermon. The lot on which it stands was deeded by 
George E. Nudd to Richard Bickford, Aaron Roberts, Thomas 
J. Tebbetts, James Young, James Bickford, Samuel Tebbetts, 
Richard Nudd, Ezra Hardy, and Samuel Nudd. The meeting- 
house had a narrow escape from burning a few years after. One 
Monday forenoon it was found to be on fire on the inside. The 
school, which was in session, was dismissed, and the pupils soon 
extinguished the fire with snow. The fire probably originated 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 325 

from the snuffed wick of a candle, a meeting having been held 
in the church the previous evening. 

The Methodists came to Wolfeborough quite early, but in 
small numbers, and although they are the most energetic and 
successful religious people in the United States in extending 
their church bounds, they have not gained much foothold in the 
town, probably on account of the ground being fully occupied by 
other denominations. Colonel William Cotton came from Ports- 
mouth in 1781. He had previously afifiliated with the Methodists, 
but when in 1792 a Congregational Church was organized, he 
became a charter member. After the death of Mr. Allen, when 
the church had lost its visibility, he probably resumed his relations 
with his former religious associates. As is well known, his home 
was in the easterly part of the town, and thither a few itinerating 
Methodist preachers occasionally resorted. The Methodists and 
their immediate neighbors, the Baptists, were very fervid wor- 
shippers, and Christian fellowship so prevailed that in 1801 they 
erected a union meeting-house, which with its successor, a new 
structure, has to this time sheltered the waning remnants of the 
two organizations. The Methodist Church, a part of whose mem- 
bers lived within the limits of Brookfield, numbered in its palmy 
days nearly two score of persons ; its membership is now less 
than one-fourth that number. Elder George O. Cotton, a grand- 
son of the Colonel, was for nearly half a century a local Methodist 
preacher, holding meetings in schoolhouses. 

Several families of Friends took up their abode in Wolfe- 
borough soon after the close of the Revolutionary War. Among 
them were the Varneys, the Bassetts, and the Nowells. Other 
families affiliated with these, and to some extent adopted their 
views and practices. About 1825 they erected a small meeting- 
house on Varney's Lane, now Friend Street, and for quite a 
number of years held in it two weekly meetings statedly and 
others occasionally. The construction of the interior of their 
place of worship was peculiar, and so was the seating of the wor- 



326 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



shippers. A broad aisle extended through the building its entire 
length. Near this was a movable partition by which the one room 
could be made into two, if desired. At the end of the room were 
elevated seats. The male members of the society sat on one side 
of the broad aisle and the females on the other, the aged persons 
and officials occupying the higher seats. 

The members of the "Meeting" at the proper time quietly took 
their accustomed places, and remained in silence for about an 
hour unless some one was "moved to speak." Sometimes one 
person and sometimes several would occupy a portion of the time. 
When the proper time for closing the meeting arrived, the 
leader, "who occupied one of the elevated seats, would extend his 
hand to the person sitting next to him and they would shake 
hands. The shake would then become general, this ceremony 
closing the meeting." There were some "gifts" in the society that 
were generally improved. Lindley M. Hoag was a forcible 
speaker, and would sometimes preach an extempore sermon that 
would continue for more than an hour without wearying his 
auditors. The talks of his wife, Huldah, were frequent, and found 
much favor with those who listened to her. 

The Friends dressed well, but not showily. The material of 
their garments was of good quaUty, but of sober colors and plain- 
ly made. The style of their bonnets was regulated by the age of 
the wearers and was changeless, the aged women wearing a hod- 
shaped black silk ; the middle-aged, a white silk of the same 
shape ; and the young misses, a white silk with the front slightly 
fiaring. 

It is not known that there was ever any organized society of 
Universalists in Wolfeborough, but there have been quite a num- 
ber of persons in different parts of the town who professed that 
faith. They were relatively more numerous in the neighborhood 
of South Wolfeborough than elsewhere. In 1845 ^ union church 
was built in that village, the probable cost of which was eight 
hundred dollars. Within a few years it has been repaired and 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 327 

modernized. To the expense of erecting this house the Uni- 
versaHsts contributed more than any other sect, although a 
preacher of that denomination seldom occupies the desk, which 
is free to all clergymen. 

There were probably iew, if any, professed Unitarians in Wolfe- 
borough previous to 1880. In the summer of 1882 Rev. Mr. 
Powell, pastor of the Unitarian Church at Laconia, held services 
several Sabbaths on the deck of steamer Lady of the Lake, while 
lying at the Wolfeborough wharf, and in the summer of 1883 
Rev. Mr. Brown, of Charleston, S. C, while on his vacation, 
which he spent in Wolfeborough, preached in the Christian 
Church Sunday afternoons. During the following three years 
there was some preaching by different ministers under the man- 
agement of Rev. S. C. Beane, of Concord, Mass., the meetings 
being held in a hall. March 25, 1886, the First Unitarian Society 
in Wolfeborough was organized. The original members were 
Charles H. Parker, William B. Hodge, Frank P. Hobbs, Rufus 
H. King, Ida M. Clark, Mary A. Dowlin, Fred W. Prindle, Abbie 
M. Prindle, Joseph Lewando, Nellie J. Lewando, Charles F. 
Piper, Sewall W. Abbott. The first board of officers consisted of 
Oliver Dowlin, president ; Ida M. Clark, vice-president ; Fred W. 
Prindle, clerk; Frank P. Hobbs, treasurer; W^illiam B. Hodge, 
Charles F. Piper, Joseph Lewando, executive committee. 

December 4, 1886, the society voted to build a church, and 
chose Greenleaf B. Clark, William B. Hodge, and Fred W. 
Prindle a building committee. This committee contracted with 
Charles Prindle and Winthrop D. Hersey to erect the edifice, and 
January 17, 1888, it was dedicated. At the dedicatory exercises 
the consecrating prayer was offered by Rev. Fielder Israel, of 
Salem, Mass., and the sermon delivered by Rev. Brooke Herford. 
It is the most costly church structure in Wolfeborough. being 
built and furnished at an expense of six thousand dollars. The 
first pastor of the society, which has no church organization, was 
Rev. Loren Benjamin McDonald. He has been succeeded by 



328 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOBOUOH. 



Revs. Laighton, Lock, Hamlet, and the present pastor. Rev. An- 
drew Hahn. A Sunday-school was established about the time 
of the dedication of the church which had fifty members. Rev. 
L. B. McDonald was its superintendent. 

The Adventists became a distinct religious people about 1840. 
Having become believers in the near approach of the advent of 
Jesus Christ, and discovering, as they thought, too much con- 
formity to the world in church organizations, they, to a certain 
extent, withdrew from them. For a few years great religious ex- 
citement prevailed, and many persons affiliated with the new class 
of believers. They organized no churches and settled no minis- 
ters, their meetings being generally held in school-houses and 
conducted for the most part by itinerating preachers, the mem- 
bers of the worshipping assemblies taking an active part in the 
services. About 1854 their meetings became somewhat localized 
at the schpolhouse in Pleasant Valley, where for a long time they 
held Sabbath meetings, conducted by the Churchills, Charles 
Coleman, and other preachers. In 1886 they established meet- 
ings at Wolfeborough village, under the direction of Elder Al- 
phonzo Davis, holding them in private housesand in a few instances 
in the Christian and Free Baptist Churches. After that, for sev- 
eral years they occupied halls, where they had constant preaching 
by different ministers, and were quite prosperous. In 1890 a 
church was organized, and in 1891 a chapel was built on Union 
Street at a cost of thirty-eight hundred dollars. It was dedicated 
in 1892, A. W. Sibley preaching the dedicatory sermon. The 
church has had two pastors. Elders Mark Stevens and E. A. 
Goodwin. 

Very few Catholics have made homes in Wolfeborough. Sev- 
eral of Irish nationality have lived in the town, but have received 
little attention from their religious teachers. More, but not a 
large number, of French extraction have domiciled here, and 
have for several years been occasionally visited by a priest. In 
1898 they erected a chapel about twenty feet square, at a probable 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



329 



cost of four hundred dollars, and in it services are occasionally 
held. 

Present Location of Churches — Advent, Union Street ; Cath- 
olic, Beatrice Street ; Christian, North Main Street ; Congre- 
gational, South Main Street; Unitarian, Glendon Street; Free- 
will Baptist, Center Street, Wolfeborough Falls. There are union 
churches at Center Wolfeborough, East Wolfeborough, North 
Wolfeborough, and South Wolfeborough. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Schools — Andrew Collins — Isaiah Horne — Grain Currency 
— Four Districts — School-rooms — Furniture — Eight 
Districts — School Lot sold — School-houses — Teach- 
ers — Dudley Leavitt — The Fire List — The Sweeping 
List — Boarding around — Little Republics — Brandy 
Scheme — School Committee — Exhibit of Schools 
1840 — District Two — District One — Union of Dis- 
tricts — High School — Town System adopted — Wo- 
men Teachers come to the Front — The First Stove. 

IN 1773 the town voted to raise five pounds for a school, and in 
1774 an additional sum of the same amount for a like purpose. 
There is no evidence that either of these votes became efifective. 
In 1776 John Sinkler brought a bill against the town for "going 
after a school-teacher." He probably failed to obtain one. Very 
important matters were then engrossing the attention of the in- 
habitants of the town as well as of the country generally. The 
restraints of government were loosely held, and the votes of 
majorities could not always be enforced. 

It is probable that there was no school in Wolfeborough until 
1 78 1, when Andrew Collins appeared on the stage in the double 
role of preacher and school-master. His necessarily brief history 
is found in preceding pages under "The Ministry." A state law 
having been enacted rendering towns that made no provision for 
schools liable to be fined, a town-meeting was held December 
17, 1782, at which it was voted "to hire a school for six months 
the coming year, three months in the winter and three in the 
summer." The selectmen engaged Isaiah Horne to take charge 
of the winter school. Here is a copy of his agreement : — 

330 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 



331 



"Wolfeborough, Thursday, December 19, 1782. 

This day agreed with Messrs. William Rogers and Richard 
Rust, selectmen of the town, to keep a proper English school for 
three months, at eleven dollars, silver currency, per month, and 
in such parts of said town as they shall direct, the school to begin 
on Monday next, I finding my board. Witness my hand, 

Isaiah Home." 

The town voted subsequently not to have the summer term 
of school. In January, 1783, a school-tax of ten pounds was as- 
sessed. In 1785 the town voted to have a school for three months 
in the summer. It was kept by Nathaniel Ambrose, Jr., who 
lived with his father in Moultonborough. The following winter 
the father received his son's wages in corn, which, with rye, was 
a staple currency, most of the taxes in Wolfeborough being paid 
in these two articles, and nearly all business transactions among 
the inhabitants based on their fixed values, which were deter- 
mined by votes passed in town meeting. Corn was valued at 
three shillings and rye at four shillings a bushel. For the ac- 
commodation of tax-payers two grain-takers were appointed. 
They were William Rogers on the south-west side of the town and 
William Triggs on the north-east. The grain-taxes were taken 
by the farmers to these depositories, and from them disbursed by 
orders from the selectmen. 

In 1786 the town voted to have no school, and during the three 
following years there is no record of any. November 22, 1790, a 
school-tax of nineteen pounds was assessed. The selectmen 
divided the town into four districts, in which schools were kept 
by Nathaniel Ambrose as follows : number one, "Above the 
Bridge," sixty days ; number two, "Below the Bridge," thirty- 
nine days; number three, "Cabbott," or "Farm," fifty-six days; 
number four, "Haines," twenty-five days. These schools were 
•kept in private houses. That in district number one occupied 
an upper room in the newly erected and not completely finished 



332 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



domicil of Benjamin Blake. He and his wife came to Wolfe- 
borough in the early spring of 1768. They built a log-house in 
in which they lived eighteen years, in 1786 exchanging their 
closely crowded quarters for a dwelling of ampler dimensions. 
Some years after, this was consumed by fire, and was replaced by 
another of similar size and structure. 

In 1790, when the school-districts were located, Mr. Blake's 
house was probably the most suitable for a school of any in that 
neighborhood; yet it required some outlay to fit it for the pur- 
pose intended, as the following bill of expenses indicates : — 

"Wolfeborough, May, 1790. 
The town of Wolfeborough to Benjamin Blake Dr. 

To four benches to sit on 6 shillings 

To fixing the room for the school i shilling 

To stuff for the banisters i shilling 6 pence 

The whole amounting to 8 shillings 6 pence." 

Of course provision of some sort was made for the accom- 
modation of the schools in the other districts, but there is no 
record of any action until September, 1793, when Daniel Brewster, 
who came to Wolfeborough two years before, charges the town 
"six shillings for making two additional benches and a writing- 
table for the use of the school." About the same time Jesse 
Merrill made "a writing-bench and two little boxes for the use 
of the schools." This simple furniture was removed from place 
to place to accommodate the schools, as the following bill of 
Jacob Smith shows : — 

"The Selectmen to Jacob Smith Dr. December 1793 to mov- 
ing the school-benches at sundry times three shillings." 

In 1793 the town had built a meeting-house and settled a minis- 
ter, and schools began to receive more atention. The selectmen 

divided the town into eight school-districts. Here follow lists 
of the tax-payers in the several districts acording to their respec- 
tive financial showing: — 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 



333 



District number one was located on the main road between 
Smith's River and Tuftonborough, and contained one-fifth of the 
town's inhabitants. List of tax-payers — William Rogers, Reuben 
Libbey, Benjamin Home, Ebenezer Meder, John Fullerton, 
James F'ullerton, Joseph Lary, Andrew Lucas, John Bassett, 
Lemuel Clifford, Jonathan Blake, Isaiah Home, Andrew Wiggin, 
Samuel Tibbetts, Ebenezer Home, Jr., Stephen Home, Levi Tib- 
betts, Isaac Townsend, Benjamin Wiggin, John Home, Eliphaz 
Wiggin, Jesse Merrill, Moses Wiggin, Andrew Wiggin, Jr., 
Chase Wiggin. Whole number, twenty-five; value of ratable 
estate, forty-one pounds, fourteen shillings, four pence. 

District number two embraced the territory lying between 
Smith's River and New Durham, extending east to the Hersey 
Brook and also about a mile on the Pine Hill road. List of tax- 
payers — James Connor, Col. Henry Rust, William Lucas, Rich- 
ard Rust, Henry Allard, Thomas Chase, Henry Rust, Jr., James 
Lucas, Joshua Varney, Daniel Brewster, Jacob Smith, Israel 
Piper, Wiggin & Thurston, Moses Varney, Stephen Drew, Widow 
Martin, Jesse Whitten, Col. Stephen Evans, Joseph Varney, 
Oliver Smith, Joseph Evans, Jason Chamberlin, Daniel Brewster, 
Jr., Josiah Evans, Samuel Leavitt, Paul Blazo, Benjamin Whid- 
den. Whole number, twenty-seven ; value of ratable estate, 
thirty-six pounds, eighteen shillings, eight pence. 

District number three consisted of Wolfeborough Neck. List 
of tax-payers — Joseph Edmonds, Josiah Leavitt, Jonathan Ed- 
monds, John Edmonds, Daniel Cooley. Whole number, five ; 
value of ratable estate, six pounds, six shillings, two pence. To 
this was added three pounds, eight shillings, and six pence of 
ratable estate from the Wentworth Farm. 

District number four, called "Pine Hill," lay on the road from 
the farm of Andrew Wiggin to the Hersey neighborhood, on that 
through the fifty acre lots towards the "Mills," and also on that 
leading to the Stockbridge Mountain. List of taxpayers — 
Jonathan Hersey, David Copp, William Fullerton, John Lucas, 



^^. HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

John Piper, David Piper, Jeremiah Gould, Paul Wiggin, John 
Shorey, Nehemiah Lucas, Samuel Piper, Timothy Piper. Whole 
number twelve ; value of ratable estate, fifteen pounds, one shil- 
ling, ten pence. 

District number five, then called the "North District," em- 
braced the whole of the Masonian proprietors' lands, the westerly 
portion of Wolfeborough Addition, and the farms lying on the 
road from North Wolfeborough to the meeting-house. Within 
its boundaries were one-fifth of the inhabitants of the town. List 
of tax-payers — Isaac Goldsmith, Aaron Frost, Isaac Martin, 
Samuel Tibbetts, Jr., Joseph Keniston, Jedidiah Drew, William 
Triggs, Joseph Haines, Jacob Haines, Joshua Haines, John 
Swazey, Matthias Haines, Dudley Hardy, Perry Hardy, Isaac 
Drew, Cornelius Jenness, Abner Moodey, William Nudd, 
Ebenezer Tibbetts, Jonathan Tibbetts, Ichabod Tibbetts, Samuel 
Nudd, Thomas Drew, Josiah Willey, John Willey, Benjamin 
Savage, Abram Prebble, John Drew, Aaron Frost, Jr., William 
Goldsmith. Whole number, thirty ; amount of ratable estate, 
thirty-five pounds, fourteen shillings, three pence. 

District number six, a union district with Ossipee and Wake- 
field, was situated east of Whiteface Mountain. List of tax- 
payers — John Young, Samuel Hide, Widow Keniston, A. Glover. 
Whole number, four ; value of ratable estate, seven pounds, two 
shillings, two pence, to which was added three pounds, eight 
shillings, six pence of the ratable estate from the Wentworth 
Farm. 

District number seven, called the "Farm District," was situated 
in the neighborhood of the Wentworth Farm and Cottonborough. 
List of tax-payers — Wentworth Farm, Calder farm, William Cot- 
ton, Jr., Edmund Tibbetts John Cotton, John Shortridge, John 
Martin, Nathaniel Brown, Josiah Cotton, Isaac Cotton. Whole 
number, thirteen ; value of ratable estate, twenty-five pounds, two 
shillings. 

District number eight, called the "Furbur District," was south 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



335 



of Lake Wentvvorth. List of taxpayers — John Furbur, Widow 
Leavitt, John Brackett, John Warren, George Warren, James 
Marden, George Yeaton, Timothy Martin. Whole number, 
eight ; value of ratable estate, four pounds, three shillings, seven 
pence, to which was added five pounds of the ratable estate of the 
Wentworth Farm. 

The ratable estate of the Wentworth Farm was thirty-six 
pounds, equal to more than one-sixth of that of the whole town, 
including both persons and properties. It was apportioned to 
districts three, six, seven, and eight. The Calder farm, Jonathan 
Hersey, John Furbur, and James Connor were rated at three 
pounds or more, and Col. Henry Rust, William Rogers, William 
Lucas, John Young, and Reuben Libbey at from two to five 
shillings less. 

At the census of 1790 the population of the town numbered — 
males about sixteen years of age, one hundred and twenty ; males 
under sixteen, one hundred and ten ; females of all ages, two hun- 
dred and seventeen ; total, four hundred and forty-seven. The 
number of tax-payers in 1793 were one hundred and thirty. As 
the foregoing exhibit of school-districts shows, the inhabitants of 
the town were generally much scattered, the most compactly 
settled parts being the main road north of Smith's River and the 
Wentworth Farm neighborhood. Few families had as yet estab- 
lished homes in the central part of the town or in those portions 
now occupied by the villages. There was no collection of build- 
ings sufficiently large even to be denominated a hamlet. 

The school-tax for the year amounted to ninety-two dollars 
and fifty cents, and was thus distributed : to district one, twenty 
dollars and forty-four cents ; to district two, eighteen dollars and 
ten cents ; to district three, four dollars and seventy-seven cents ; 
to district four, seven dollars and forty cents ; to district five, 
seventeen dollars and fifty-eight cents ; to district six, four dollars 
and ninety cents; to district seven, twelve dollars and thirty 
cents ; to district eight, six dollars and ninety-six cents. 



33^ 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



During 1790 Abraham Peavey, George Nicholson, and Samuel 
Tucker taught schools in Wolfeborough. Each teacher perhaps 
visited one or more of the districts, and kept a term of school, the 
length of which was proportioned to the amount of tax allotted 
it, occupying the "spare room" of some commodious dwelling in 
the neighborhood, and except in the southwest part of the town, 
where movable school furniture had already been provided, utiliz- 
ing household articles supplemented with rude tables, seats, and 
benches. So pressing was the need of schooling that it is not 
improbable that some of the inhabitants, in order to lengthen the 
terms of school, may have furnished the teacher with gratuitous 
board, allowing him to retain the whole of his pittance of grain or 
money. 

Agreeable to a vote of the town, the school lot was adver- 
tised to be sold June i, 1797, at public vendue under the follow- 
ing conditions made by the committee having the matter in 
charge, which consisted of Richard Rust, William Rogers, and 
Nathaniel Brown : — 

"ist. Each lot to be set up separately and struck off to the 
highest bidder, who will be deemed the purchaser. 

2nd. A valid conveyance to be made on payment of the pur- 
chase money. 

3rd. The purchaser shall pay five per cent on the amount each 
lot sells for upon the land being struck ofif to him, 
which will be forfeited on his or their non-compliance 
with his bid or neglecting to fulfill the conditions. 

4th. The purchaser may pay the money down or he may have 
the indulgence of nine years for the payment of the 
whole of the purchase money arising from the sale of 
each lot by giving good security on interest and paying 
one-third of the principle in two years, one-third part 
in four years, if requested, and the remaining third 
i part in nine years, and the interest arising on the whole 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



337 



annually — and he may pay the same at any time within 
the said term of nine years, provided he shall pay the 
money due at one and the same time. 
5th. A bond will be given for a lease or deed until the money 
is paid as expressed in the fourth article. 

6th. Unless payments are made agreeably to the fourth article, 
the land and any part of the money which has been paid 
shall become forfeited and the bond of no efTect." 

The lot contained four hundred and fifty acres, and was divided 
into nine tifty-acre lots. On the road leading from the town 
meeting-house to North Wolfeborough, it extended from the 
westerly side of F. B. Home's farm to that owned by Everett 
Fernald, and in a northerly direction, to the farm occupied by the 
late Ira Home. Among the first purchasers were Thomas 
Stevenson, John Rines, George Yeaton, and Tilly Lary. Three 
sons of Jacob Home, viz., James Twombley, Henry, and Elijah 
eventually had farms out of it. The most of it is now in the pos- 
session of Frank B. Home, Samuel Reynolds, and Albert F. and 
James Stevenson. At the time of the sale it brought about five 
dollars an acre. The interest on the money arising from the sale 
of the school lot was one hundred and fifty-five dollars and eighty- 
four cents, and with the school-tax, it was thus divided in 1802 : — 

TOTAL. 

$69.19 
48.81 

58.49 
23-95 
12.92 

26.03 
16.96 
67.30 

$168.80 S154.85 $323.65 





SCHOOI, TAX. 




INTEREST ON 
SCHOOL FUND, 


District 


one 


$35-90 


$33-29 




two 


25.46 


23-35 




three 


30.49 


28.00 




four 


12.80 


II. 15 




five 


6.74 


6.18 




six 


13.58 


12.45 




seven 


8.85 


8.11 




eight 


34-98 


32.32 



338 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



In 1804 the interest arising from the school fund was divided 
according to the number of polls in each district. This method 
was continued until 1808, when it was divided according to the 
number of children between the ages of three and eighteen years 
in the several districts. In 1804 it was voted to raise fifty dollars 
extra for schools. 

Soon after the division of the town into school districts it was 
required that each should erect a schoolhouse at its own ex- 
pense. There was some delay in complying with this requisition. 
The first schoolhouse erected was probably in district number 
one. It was located near the house of Benjamin Blake, and was 
always designated as the Blake schoolhouse. Not far from the 
same time a schoolhouse was erected near the dwelling of Daniel 
Brewster for the accommodation of district number two. This is 
said to have been built of logs. In a few years a frame school- 
house was erected near the residence of Henry Wiggin, Esq., 
now occupied by Mrs. George W. Furbur. The first school- 
house in Pine Hill district was built near the Mason spring ; the 
first one in the Center district, known as the Rines schoolhouse, 
near the present residence of James Stevenson, his grandfather, 
John Rines then occupying the dwelling; the first in the Haines 
district at Dimon's Corner, near where stood Aaron Robert's 
store. The first schoolhouse in the Farm district was built on 
the Farm road. Some years after this district was divided into 
three and a schoolhouse erected on each of the three parallel 
roads leading from Brookfield, viz., the Farm, Pequaket, and Cot- 
tonborough. 

In 1807 non-resident lands were taxed and the ratable value 
apportioned to the several districts by the selectmen. In 181 1 
Richard Rust, Samuel Nowell, and Dr. Moses Hoitt were ap- 
pointed a superintending school committee. Schools had now 
three sources of revenue, the school tax assessed on polls and 
estate of residents, the annual interest of the school fund, and 
the non-resident school tax, which had been established by legis- 




LU 
CO 

O 

I 
I 

_1 

o 
o 

X 

(J 

o 

cr 
CD 



UJ 

I 



UJ 
Q 
< 

< 



LU 



CD 

z. 

O 

I- 

h- 



LU 
_I 
QQ 
< 

o 

Z 

LU 
UJ 
CC 

I 



>- 
5 

LU 
Q 
< 
(J 
< 



I 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



339 



lative enactment. The resident school tax was appropriated in 
the several districts in which it was raised ; the interest from the 
school fund was divided among the districts as determined by a 
vote of the citizens, and the non-resident school tax was as- 
signed to the more needy of the school districts at the discretion 
of the selectmen. 

April 17, 1820, at a special town meeting, it was voted to form 
a new school district from portions of districts numbered one and 
two, to extend from the Neck road to Pickering's Corner, in- 
cluding the farms of Joseph Varney and Daniel Bassett, and to 
be called district number nine. At another town-meeting held on 
the fourth day of the following May, agreeable to the petition of 
James Fullerton, Tobias Banfield, and thirty-seven other persons, 
the foregoing vote was reconsidered. 

Following is a list of the persons who taught school in Wolfe- 
borough to the year 1820. Some of them kept only a single 
term, while others were thus engaged more or less for years. 
The date preceding a name indicates the year that person first 
taught in the town. 1781, Andrew Collins; 1782, Isaiah Home; 
1785, Nathaniel Ambrose, Jr. ; 179 1-3, Samuel Tucker, Abraham 
Peavey, George Nicholson, Anna Blake ; 1794, Thomas Demer- 
ritt. Col. Mark Wiggin, (Col. Wiggin was then past the meridian 
of life. He had been an active citizen of Stratham, where he held 
much office, civil and military. He taught a number of schools 
in Wolfeborough, and was a prominent town official), William 
Kent, (Mr. Kent subsequently became part-owner of the Cutter 
& Sewall mills, and eventually removed to Canada), Betsy Wig- 
gin ; 1796, Moses Thompson; 1797, Katherine Edmonds, (this 
was the Neck school. It continued nine weeks, and the teacher 
received one and one-quarter dollars per week, boarding probably 
in her father's family), Horatio G. Balch, Moses Bickford, Nancy 
Wiggin; 1798, Benjamin Canney ; 1799, George Melville, John 
French, Joseph Ordiorne ; 1800, Samuel Fox (afterwards a 
prominent citizen holding various offices) ; 1801, Israel Piper, 



340 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Betsy Lucas, Betsy Fernald; 1802, Nancy Coleman, Charles 
Barker, Jonathan Copp (a teacher for many years) ; 1803, Samuel 
Wiggin, Betsy Gould, Sarah Johnson (afterwards the wife of 
Esquire Thomas Stevenson), James F. Moulton, Mrs. John 
Snell, Mrs. Josiah Frost ; 1804, Wealthan Wiggin, Hiram Hodge ; 
1805, Aaron Boodey, Nehemiah Ordway, Henry Home, Ebenezer 
Meader, Jr. ; 1806, Stephen L. Creighton, Polly Gould, Charles 
Foss, John Brown ; 1807, Dudley Leavitt. To secure his services 
as teacher for a three months' term of school, he was paid sixty- 
seven dollars. A portion of this sum was voluntarily contributed 
by Isaiah Home, Ebenezer Meader, Jr., and John W. Horn, the 
two last being desirious of obtaining a knowledge of certain 
branches, most probably including higher mathematics and sur- 
veying, which ordinary teachers could not impart. (For the oc- 
casion the new Blake school-house was the college), Miss Savage, 
Sanborn Blake, Thomas Stevenson, James Stuart ; 1808, John 
Bassett, Moses Connor, (Because of the many schools he had 
taught, he was called "Master Connor." He was a nephew of 
James Connor and a cripple. Being a good penman, he wrote 
many family records, some of his artistic productions being still 
preserved), Isaiah G. Orne, Hannah Lucas; 1809, Nathaniel 
Burleigh, David T. Livy (for many years a Wolfeborough phy- 
sician), John J. Coleman, Jonathan Blake, John Rines, Hannah 
Home, Mary Young, Charles Foss, Abigail Meserve, Polly Gow ; 
181 1, Joseph Farrar (a practising lawyer, the grandfather of Mrs. 
Charles Rollins), Joseph Shorey (who constructed the Mason 
watering-trough, which has been in use for more than a century), 
William Cotton, Daniel Fellows; 1812, John W. Home, John C. 
Young, Joseph Edgerly (a Wolfeborough physician), Thomas J. 
Tebbetts (a Wolfeborough physician, held much public office). 
Dearborn Wedgewood, Mary Hayes, Sally Crosby, Dolly Teb- 
betts, Betsy Brewster; 1813, Samuel Burleigh, Olive Shepherd, 
Jonathan Bickford, Jr., Nancy Philbrick, Elizabeth Powers, 
George W. Warren; 1814, Mary Copp, Samuel Leavitt, Jr. (be- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



341 



came a prominent citizen and public officer of Tuftonborough), 
Gideon Straw, George Nowell, Sarah Lyford, Deborah Gilman ; 
1815, David B. Straw, Henry Tebbetts, Abigail Snell ; 1816, 
Hannah Gage, Mary Dudley ; 1817, Charles Gilman, Polly 
Hawkins; 1819, David Fullerton ; 1820, Betsy Lucas. 

The money arising from the sale of the school lot was for a 
num.ber of years loaned to individuals, and with some additions 
from the literary fund, or railroad tax, constitutes the school 
fund, which now amounts to forty-three hundred dollars. After 
a while the town used the principal in paying current expenses 
and thereby became legally and morally responsible for the 
amount thereof. A six per cent interest is allowed for the same, 
which is annually expended for the maintenance of the schools of 
Wolfeborough. 

For the half-century following 1820, there was no very rapid 
progress in Wolfeborough schools in methods or general charac- 
ter. There was, however, a gradual improvement. Most of the 
persons who engaged in teaching were natives, but few visiting 
the town in search of employment as instructors on account of 
the low wages of teachers and the short terms of school. Enter- 
prising young men and women generally regarded the business 
as merely a stepping-stone to some more constant and lucrative 
employment ; consequently experienced teachers were not very 
abundant. A few farmers continued to instruct in winter schools 
for several years, their circumstances being such as to afiford 
them some leisure in winter, but mechanics, merchants, and busi- 
ness men found their time fully occupied in their chosen occupa- 
tions. 

At the annual meeting of 1821, the selectmen were instructed 
to re-district the town and determine the boundaries of the several 
districts. Their action was to be considered at the next annual 
meeting. This they did, increasing the number of the districts 
to eleven. In 1823 Rev. John P. Cleveland, Drs. Thomas J. 
Tebbetts and David T. Livy, Aaron Roberts, and Thomas Rust 



242 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Avere chosen superintending school committee. They were in- 
structed to visit the schools at the beginning and close of each 
term, and to employ no person to teach who had not received 
from them a certificate of proper qualifications for teaching. In 
case they should not follow the latter instruction, they would 
become personally liable for the wages of that person. In 1828 
a prudential school committee consisting of a resident in each 
district was chosen. It was composed of David Fullerton, Daniel 
Pickering, William Furbur, John Bassett, Joseph Banfield, 
Samuel Huggins, Benjamin Smith, Thomas J. Tebbetts, Jeremiah 
Towle, Robert Newell, and Joshua Pierce. 

On account of the small amount of money appropriated for the 
early schools of Wolfeborough it was necessary to impose on the 
pupils duties which to those of today would seem very irksome. 
For many years the wood for the school-house fires was delivered 
green, and sled length, that is, in logs from eight to twelve feet 
long. Occasionally it was dragged to the place in whole trees, 
the branches only being removed. A fire list was prepared by 
the teacher, and the boys were expected to fit the wood for burn- 
ing and "tend the fire." It required a considerable portion of 
the previous afternoon to cut the wood and gather the kindlings, 
which consisted of partially decayed stumps and fallen limbs. If 
the weather was extremely cold, the temporary janitor would be 
obliged to spend a large portion of the next day in efforts to 
keep the open school-room comfortably warm. He was not ex- 
pected to be sparing of the fuel, and its consumption in the broad 
fireplace, with its high jambs was not inconsiderable. Such exer- 
cise was well calculated to develop muscle, and render unneces- 
sary expensive training in athletics. 

A sweeping-list was also a necessary accompaniment of the 
school-room. The broom was manufactured on the spot. It con- 
sisted of a flat bundle of hemlock sprigs fastened to a long stick 
handle with a tow string, perhaps hand-twisted. To properly 
shape such a broom and attach it firmly to the handle required 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



343 



a degree of skill. It would not be strange if sometimes a youth, 
as he watched the manipulations of the deft fingers of the maiden 
before him, fancied that at some future time she might become 
the neat and tasteful mistress of his home. 

Boarding around was a method adopted by some of the smaller 
school districts to lengthen the term of school, the parents and 
guardians mutually agreeing to board the teacher for a period 
proportionate to the number of pupils they were to send to the 
school. This practice was advantageous to the children, as it 
permitted them to become better acquainted with the teacher, 
who tutored them at their homes. It also promoted sociability 
between parents and teachers. The objectionable feature of the 
custom was the liability that the teacher become a dyspeptic by 
an over-indulgence in the indigestible delicacies which the house- 
wives vied with each other in preparing for him, or a rheumatic 
from the occupancy of the long untenanted bed in the spare room. 

Occasionally a sagacious parent who had a large number of 
children and a well-stored larder would take as a boarder an en- 
terprising teacher at a merely nominal price in order that the 
family might be benehted by his example and instructions. On 
the approach of evening the chores would be early finished, and 
the younger members of the household sent to bed. Then the 
broad dinner-table would be drawn before the blazing hearth in 
the capacious living-room, and the books, slates, and tallow dip 
placed on it, while the teacher and pupils would gather around 
for study and exposition. A few hours thus spent brought more 
pleasure and profit to the participants than would have been ob- 
tained in a much longer stay in a modern club-room. Out of 
families thus trained, have gone forth many sons and daughters 
who have creditably and successfully won their way in the 
broader fields of life. 

Until about 1830, the town as a corporation managed school 
affairs either by the direct action of its citizens in town meeting, 
or by its agents, the selectmen, or, in some measure, by superin- 



344 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



tending and prudential committees. At that time it transferred 
a large share of its power and oversight in such matters to the 
little republics known as school districts. These had their officers 
— a clerk and prudential committee — and such special agents as 
occurring circumstances required. They determined the time 
and length of school sessions, purchased fuel and furniture, re- 
paired and erected school-houses, and voted money for extra 
instruction ; but could neither assess nor collect taxes. These 
must be authorized by the selectmen. In cases where statutory 
requirements were neglected, the selectmen supplied the deficien- 
cies at the expense of the district. 

In one instance it is evident that the bounds of lawful action 
were exceeded. The inhabitants of a certain school district had 
met for the purpose of making arrangements to build a much 
needed school-house. As usual there were objections to the 
scheme. It Vv^as decided to purchase a gallon of brandy at the 
expense of the district. The result was that the gloom of antici- 
bated rates was banished by visions of golden prosperity, and an 
affirmative vote was obtained. The act was not meritorious in 
a moral or legal aspect, but it was politic, and therefore con- 
doned. 

A superintending school committee was elected in 1823 and 
one in 1829, consisting of Nathaniel C. Towle, Joseph Banfield, 
and Thomas Rust. After that time they were appointed by the 
selectmen. Here follows a list of the committees appointed. 

1S30-1, Thomas J. Tebbetts, Daniel Martin, Zachariah Bat- 
chelder; 1832, Henry H. Orne, Obadiah Stoddard, Enos Merrill; 
1833, Thomas J. Tebbetts , Daniel Martin. David Fullerton ; 1834, 
David Fullerton, Ebenezer Tebbetts, David Shaw ; 1835-6, 
Ebenezer Tebbetts, Obadiah Stoddard, David Shaw ; 1837-8, 
Ebenezer Tebbetts, James Edgerly, Samuel J. Stevenson ; 1839- 
40, William Thompson, Benjamin F. Parker, James A. Tebbetts ; 
1841-2, Henry H. Hazelton, Samuel J. Stevenson, Matthias M. 
Haines; 1843, Obadiah Stoddard, Jeremiah F. Hall, Matthias M. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



345 



Haines ; 1844-5, Zachariah Batchelder, George W. Warren, Jesse 
A. Sanborn ; 1846, Zachariah Batchelder, Benjamin F. Parker, 
Obadiah Stoddard ; 1847, Zachariah Batchelder, Benjamin F. 
Parker, Thomas L. Whitton ; 1848, Thomas Rust, George W. 
Hersey, Thomas L. Whitton ; 1849-50, Thomas Rust, Ira Blais- 
dell, Samuel J. Stevenson; 1851, Thomas Rust, Samuel J. Steven- 
son, Thomas Bartlett ; 1852, Thomas Rust, Samuel J. Stevenson, 
Matthias M. Haines ; 1853-4, Thomas Rust, Matthias M. Haines, 
Charles H. Parker; 1855, Samuel J. Stevenson, Charles F. Hill, 
William C. Fox; 1856, Thomas Rust, Thomas Bartlett, Stephen 
Merrill ; 1857, Stephen Merrill, Thomas Bartlett, Charles F. Hill ; 
1859, John Wingate, Charles F. Hill ; i860, Charles F. Hill, Wil- 
liam C. Fox, Samuel J. Stevenson; 1861, Charles F. Hill, John 
Wood, Samuel J. Stevenson ; 1862, William C. Fox, Henry R. 
Parker, Woodbury P. Home ; 1863-4, Chase Moulton, Wood- 
bury P. Home, Samuel D. Fox; 1865, Charles F, Hill, William 
C. Fox, Oscar F. Whitton ; 1867, Albert B. Rust ; 1868-9, Henry 
G. Home, Chase Moulton, Moses T. Gate. 

About this time it was decided to have the superintending 
school committee consist of one person only, who was to receive 
a salary not exceeding sixty dollars. Under the regulation the 
following persons were appointed: 1870, Oscar F. Whitton; 
1871, Josiah H. Stinchfield ; 1871-3, Woodbury P. Home; 
1874-5, Aaron W. Ayer; 1876-7, Moses T. Gate; 1878, Henry 
R. Parker; 1879, Sumner Clark; 1881-2, Woodbury P. Home; 
1883, George E. Symonds ; 1884, John G. Cate ; 1885, George A. 
Haines. Previous to 1870 each member of the superintending 
school committee received annually two dollars. This was his 
compensation for attending two meetings of the committee held 
for the examination of persons who proposed to teach schools in 
the town. If he performed judicial functions, he was paid for his 
services. Visiting schools, of which there was little done, was 
gratuitous. Subsequent to 1885, school matters in Wolfeborough 
have been managed by the town school district. 



346 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Here is an exhibit of the school in Wolfeboroug-h in 1840. The 
first column shows the number of the district ; the second, the 
number of pupils in it between the ages of three and eighteen 
years ; the third, the amount of money alloted to it ; the fourth 
and fifth, the names of the teachers employed in summer and 
winter. 



I 
2 

3 

4 

5 
6 

7 
8 

9 
10 

J I 

12 

13 
14 
15 



77 
102 

35 
28 

76 

21 

20 

93 
22 
10 
16 
21 

75 
40 

43 



$110.55 
$124.19 
$ 56.56 
$ 45.24 
$ 96.39 

$ 31-27 
$ 34-55 
$135-05 
$ 24.65 

$ 11-35 
$ 14.92 

$ 34.96 

$ 95.69 

$ 44.56 

$ 53-72 



Sarah A. Doe 
Mary A. Mason 
Louisa A. Gate 
Shuah Libbey 
Melissa Tebbetts 
Elizabeth Folsom 
Ann Moulton 
Mehitable Bickford 
Hannah T. Hersev 



Charles G. Tebbetts 
Benjamin F. Parker 
Phoebe Furbur 
Mary A. Mason 
Samuel J. Stevenson 
Eliza Tebbetts 
Matthias M. Haines 
James A. Tebbetts 
Hannah T. Hersey 



Elizabeth Tebbetts George W. Home 
Betsy A. Rust Samuel S. Parker 

Mary J. Tebbetts Phineas Johnson 

Obadiah Stoddard 



Total 697 $913-65 



The average amount of school money expended for each pupil 
was one dollar and thirty-four cents. These teachers were nearly 
all natives of Wolfeborough, at least five of them being farmers 
with families. 

School district number two originally extended from New 
Durham to the Hersey Brook, a distance of about five miles. It 
also embraced the whole of the Col. Rust lot and that portion 
of the Sewall lot which was on the south side of Smith's River. 
As in 1829 it had increased considerably in population, small vil- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 347 

lages having been formed in two localities, it was proposed to 
divide the district into two, the severing Hne to be a little south 
of the Guppy (now the Berry) place. A proposition so reason- 
able met with no opposition, and the southern portion became 
district number thirteen. 

This division left district number two without a schoolhouse, 
and it was decided to erect one in Harmony Grove. This loca- 
tion, although not central, was regarded as desirable, since it was 
at a convenient distance from the two villages, the Bridge and 
Mill Village, while the nature of its environs was such that the 
erection of many buildings in the vicinity seemed improbable, 
quiet and an ample play-ground thus being insured. 

There was a disparity in the financial conditions of the two 
sections of the district, the Bridge portion being comparatively 
wealthy, while many of the inhabitants of Mill Village were poor. 
At first matters were quiet and harmonious. Soon, however, 
there were murmurings of dissatisfaction because the money of 
the more wealthy was educating the children of the poor. For 
this there was only one remedy — a division of the district on 
the property line. Repeatedly this matter was brought before the 
town by petitions, but in every instance the petitioners had "leave 
to withdraw." Repeated failure brought quiet. The population 
of the district continued to increase, and about i860 the school- 
room, which was only twenty-eight feet square, became much 
over-crowded, the school sometimes consisting of one hundred 
pupils. The roof and other wood work of the building had be- 
come much decayed, and it was deemed proper to erect a new 
schoolhouse suitable for the necessities of the district. At a 
school-meeting it was voted to build on the lot then occupied 
by the district a school building two stories high, with cfcie room 
on each floor in which could be held graded schools, the cost of 
which, as guarranteed by responsible persons, should not exceed 
two thousand dollars. A building committee was chosen, con- 
sisting of persons living in different parts of the district. 



348 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Soon agitation in relation to a division of the district recom- 
menced. No complaint was made against any of the inhabitants 
of the district, old or young, but the cry was against the projectors 
of the building enterprise, although responsible persons were ready 
to guarantee that the cost of the school-house should not exceed 
the estimated sum. Some persons, who were really opposed to 
the division of the district, became so alarmed at the prospect of 
high taxes that they voted in favor of the measure. By methods 
which it is better to let the pall of oblivion cover, the seceders 
prevailed notwithstanding a majority of the inhabitants of the 
district voted against a division. 

The secession of the more wealthy portion of its inhabitants 
left district number two in circumstances peculiarly difficult. It 
was probably per capita the poorest district in Wolfeborough, 
although in the aggregate it possessed more property than some 
of the smaller ones. It had been made the unwilling possessor 
of a partially decayed schoolhouse, for which it had been required 
to pay to the new district its proportion of the estimated value. 
This building it could not advantageously repair, remove, occupy, 
or utilize. It could not be permanently occupied as a school- 
house, as it stood within ten rods of the southern terminal of the 
district, while the homes of every pupil were in a northerly direc- 
tion ; it could not be removed, as its walls were of brick ; it could 
not be repaired and used for any other purpose than a school- 
house, as in that case the lot would be forfeited. 

The district was forced to make a virtue of necessity, and for 
a short time a school was kept in it, although the decayed roof 
threatened danger to the pupils. It was afterwards sold at 
auction for old brick. As soon as practicable, arrangements were 
made to build a new schoolhouse. A lot was purchased for 
seventy-five dollars, and on it erected a schoolhouse at a cost of 
sixteen hundred dollars. Enlarged by the town of Wolfeborough, 
it remains an evidence of the correct educational sentiment of dis- 
trict number two. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 349 

The seceding district constructed no school building, but de- 
pended on renting until 1878. Like all events occurring in human 
affairs the division of the district was not barren of fruitage. It 
occasioned animosities of long continuance, and wounded close 
friendships that were never healed. It is, however, proper to ob- 
serve that some of the more considerate promoters of the act ac- 
knowledged and regretted their error, and later invited co- 
operative action in school matters. 

School district number one was settled quite uniformly, and 
the population remained quite evenly distributed for some time. 
During this period the Blake school-house was convenient for it. 
In process of time, however, the southern part became quite 
populous, while the inhabitants in the northern end lessened 
somewhat. It was then claimed that it was unjust to require the 
major part of the pupils who were living in the compact part of 
the district to travel so far to school. The claim was admitted, 
and the district divided. The Blake school-house was removed 
nearer to the village, and a small one erected for district number 
one. Subsequently the new districts, seventeen and nineteen, 
with a portion of number sixteen, which consisted of parts of 
numbers two and thirteen, were consolidated, and the combina- 
tion was called district number seventeen. In 1878 this district 
obtained possession of the Academy building on condition that 
it should maintain a High School. This it did by taxation and 
such tuition as it obtained from other districts. The school was of 
respectable grade and proved quite beneficial to the town until 
the opening of the Brewster Free Academy. 

School district number twelve was located between Water 
\^illage and North Wolfeborough, and number eighteen between 
the Haines Hill and Center Wolfeborough. They were both 
small. 

Great improvements has been made in the schools of Wolfe- 
borough during the last thirty years. This has been especially 
noticeable since John Brewster made in his will such ample pro- 



350 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



visions for educational purposes. In 1880 the schools in districts 
numbered two and seventeen were managed by boards of educa- 
tion. In 1886 the town system of schools was adopted, and they 
are now under the direction of a school board of three persons 
elected by free suffrage. One member of the board retires each 
year, the place being filled by a new election or his own re- 
election. 

The first school board elected consisted of George A. Haines 
for three years, John H. Rust for two years, and Thomas Young 
for one year. Since then the following persons have been mem- 
bers of the board for periods of longer or shorter duration, al- 
though the ofrice has been held more constantly by George A. 
Haines and Albert B. Rust than the others ; viz., Everett C. Ban- 
field, James H. Martin. Charles G. Gate, Albert B. Rust, George 
A. Haines, Pierce A. Home, Edwin H. Lord, John G. Gate, Ed- 
win W. Junkins, Jasper H. Warren, Nathaniel H. Scott, Fred S. 
Libbey. Each member receives a salary of seventy-five dollars. 

Following is an exhibit of the schools in 1900 : — 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance, Gash on Hand, March 3, 1900. $947.43 
Amount of Appropriation for Schools, $3,270.00 

Amount of Appropriation for Supplies, 350.00 
Amount of Appropriation for Repairing School House, 75.00 

Amount of Appropriation for Pickering School Fence, 25.00 

Amount of Appropriation for rent of School Grounds, 43-50 

Amount Received from Dog Licenses, 1899, 152.00 

Amount Received from Literary Fund, 176.00 

Amount Received from Interest on School Fund, 258.00 

Amount Received from Brewster Estate. 1.075.00 
Amount Received for Tuition for Pupils from Other 

Towns. 51-36 

Amount Received from Sale of Supplies, 1.06 

6,424-35 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 351 
EXPENDITURES. 

Amount Paid for Salaries of Teachers, $4,144.95 

Amount Paid for Care of School Buildings, 317-75 

Amount Paid for Fuel, 284.00 

Amount Paid for Repairs, 14348 

Amount Paid for Supplies, 39^7^ 

Amount Paid for Rent of School Room and Land, 38.50 

Amount Paid for Labor, 42-47 

Amount Paid for Water Rent, 20.00 

Amount Paid for Conveying Pupils, 181.50 

Amount Paid for Sundries, 67.64 

Amount Paid on Old Account, 4.00 

Cash on Hand, March i, 1899, 781.35 



$6,424.35 

Total Amount Expended for School Purposes during 

the Year, $5,643.00 

Total Number of Scholars as per Last Enumeration, 371 
Total Expense per scholar for the Year, $15.21 

The number of different teachers employed during the year 
was twenty, thirteen of whom were residents of the town of 
Wolfeborough. Salaries of from twenty-eight to forty dollars per 
month were received except in the case of the teacher of the 
Crammer School, who received $60.60. Here follows a list of 
the teachers and the locality of the schools : — 

Pickering schoolhouse. Smith's Bridge, Ena A. Maxwell, 
Emma Wiggin. Eleanor L. Hawkesworth, J. Maude Taylor ; 
Wolfeborough Falls, Zada B. Furber, Alice B. Glines ; South 
Wolfeborough, Nellie T. Graves, Grace E. Marden ; Wolfe- 
borough Center, Pierce A. Home ; North Wolfeborough Jose- 
phine A. Connors ; Whitton, Josephine B. Saunders ; Cotton Val- 
ley, Alta M. Home ; Pine Hill. Alice M. Given ; Pleasant Valley, 
Bertha M. Young; Highland, Grace M. Morgan. 



352 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



When schools first began to be taught in Wolfeborough, only 
male teachers were employed. Gradually, however, women en- 
tered the ranks, and in a few decades had charge of most of the 
summer schools. It will be observed in the exhibit of 1840 that 
they also taught some of the smaller winter schools. Now they 
are almost invariably the teachers of Wolfeborough schools. 
One reason why men only were employed as teachers was that 
they were better educated than women. Schools were also 
chiefly governed by physical force, and where the rod and the 
ferule held sway, it was an advantage for a teacher to be a vigor- 
ous athlete. For teaching the schools of to-day whose methods 
of government are so different from those of our fathers, women 
are particularly well adapted. 

Very early in the last century Jacob Haines and others peti- 
tioned the selectmen to employ a female teacher for district num- 
ber eight, and Daniel Brewster and others asked that sewing 
might be allowed in district number two. The first district to 
purchase a stove was North Wolfeborough. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Early Banns — Marrying and Giving in Marriage in the 
OLD Days. 

THIS chapter contains a record of the banns pubHshed in 
Wolfeborough between the years 1789 and 1854. It will 
probably be used for reference as much as any other in the book, 
as by it family relationships can be traced. 

1789. Nov. 26, John Snell and Elizabeth Williams, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 14, Samuel Abbott, of Tuftonborough, and Anna 
Varney, of Wolfeborough. 

1790. Nov. 22, Ebenezer Plaice, of New Durham Gore, and 

Mary Hurd, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 8, John Edmonds, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia Copp, 
of Tuftonborough. 

1791. Jan. II, Nehemiah Lucas, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 

Wiggin, of Stratham. 
March 15, Thomas Cotton and Martha Furber, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
May 9, Grafton Nutter, of Tuftonborough, and Elizabeth 

Fullerton, of Wolfeborough. 
Sept. 24, James McDuffee, of New Durham Gore, and 

Eleanor Connor, of Wolfeborough. 

1792. Nov. 15, John Swazey and Sarah Goldsmith, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 27, Walter Avery, of Parsonsfield, Mass., and Mary 
Wiggin, of Ossipee. 

3S3 



254 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

1793. March 7, Dudley Hardy, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 

Johnson, of Middleton. 

Apr. 18, Moses Wiggin and Molly Clififord, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 24, Chase Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 
Calder, of Middleton. 

Nov. 19, Jonathan Tibbetts and Catherine Goldsmith, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

1794. Feb. II, Andrew Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 

Barker, of Stratham. 

Mar. 24, Chase Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Mary Nut- 
ter, of Tuftonborough. 

May — , George Warren and Elizabeth Leavitt, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. — , William Goldsmith and Sally Haines, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Aug. 27, Edward Leavitt, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Sias, of Ossipee. 

Nov. 24, Thomas Valentine Wormwood, of Durham, and 
Polly Drew, of Wolfeborough. 

1795. May 8, Josiah Evans, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia Evans, 

of New Durham. 
May 18, John Wentworth Fernald and Polly Fernald, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. — , William Copp, of Tuftonborough, and Elisabeth 

Blake, of Wolfeborough. 

1796. Jan. 9, George Brewster and Dorcas Holt, both of Wolfe- 

borough. 

Jan. 18, Love Key, of Wolfeborough, and Molly Fogg, 
of Berwick, Mass. 

Jan. 23, William Drew and Sally Thomas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 35 c 

Sep. 19, James Cate and Betsy Furbur, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Sep. 21, Isaac Townsend and Lydia Evans, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 7, Rev. Ebenezer Allen and Betsy Fernald, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 7, Josiah Moody, of Tuftonborough, and Susannah 
Everson Tebbetts, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 16, Jonathan Blake and Polly Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 16, Josiah Frost and Nancy Allen, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 16, Joshua Mclntire, of Tuftonborough, and Polly 
Hurd, of Wolfeborough. 

1797. Oct. 9, Moses Thurston, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 

Wiggin, of Stratham. 
Nov. 20, Cornelius Jenness and Deborah Chesley, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 5, Andrew Jevvett, of Wolfeborough, and Joanna 

Hobbs, of Dover. 

1798. Feb. 17, James Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 

Robinson, of Brookfield. 

Jul. 15, Wilmot Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Dorothy 
Land, of Dover. 

Oct. 9, Richard Tibbetts and Sally Young, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 10, Timothy W. Young, of Tuftonborough. and 
Esther Libbey, of Wolfeborough, 

Nov. 10, James Marden, of Wolfeborough, and Sally Wat- 
son, of Rochester. 

Nov. 15, Thomas Wiggin, of Brookfield, and Nancy 
Drew, of Wolfeborough. 



356 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Dec. 5, William Nudd and Polly Moore, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. lo, John Edmonds, of Wolfeborough, and Molly 
Brown, of Tuftonborough. 
1799. Feb. 7, Joseph Keniston, of Wolfeborough, and Susan 
Brown, of Chester. 

Jan. 9, David VVentworth, of Alton, and Mary Smith, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 7, Isaac Cotton and Else Marden, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb. 7, George O. Cotton and Sally Wiggin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 7, Jonathan Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Abigail 
Roberts, of Dover. 

Jun. 5, Dr. Thomas Saltmarsh, of New Durham, and 
Betsy Evans, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. I, Benjamin Evans and Hannah Lucas, botli of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 7, Benjamin Brown Whitten and Phoebe Rollins, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 23, Jeremiah Clififord, of Wolfeborough, and Sally 
Williams, of Ossipee. 

Dec. 23, Peter Key and Betsy Coleman, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1800. Jan. 9, Thomas Perkins, of Ossipee, and Mehitable Gold- 
smith, of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 14, William Fullerton and Maribah Stanley, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 20, Timothy Piper, of Tuftonborough, and Hannah 
Neal, of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 27, John Jenness, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Tuttle. of Brookfield. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



357 



Jan. 28, Nathaniel Fernald, of Brookfield, and 'Polly 
Coleman, of Wolfeborough. 

Col. William Cotton of Wolfeborough, and Ruth Page, 
of Wakefield, legally published. 
Jan. 29, Moses Thompson, of Deerfield, and Sally Fox, 

of Wolfeborough. 
May — , Samuel Connor and Polly Evans, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
June 15, Hiram Hodge, of Brookfield, and Betsy Keay, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 22, Isaac Martin and Lois Fernald, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1801. Jan. 15, Samuel Varney, of Rochester, and Letty Clififord, 
of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 7, Samuel Hersey and Sally Shorey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Feb. 28, Moses Muzzey, of Bradford, Vermont, and Han- 
nah Prebble, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 4, Thomas Nock and Lydia Tibbetts, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Aug. 29, Paul Nute and Sarah Frost, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Aug. 29, James Fernald, of Brookfield, and Betsy Bracket! 

Wiggm, of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 21, John Brackett, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy Fol- 

som, of New Market. 
Sep. 21, William Young, of Wolfeborough, and Sally Bur- 
leigh, of Ossipee. 
Sep. 21, Lemuel Drew, of Wolfeborough, and Polly War- 
ren, of Tuftonborough. 
Sep. 21, Gardner Brown of Tuftonborough, and Ruth 

Moore, of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 8, Samuel Marden, of Jefferson, and Hannah Dodge 
Frost, of Wolfeborough. 



358 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Nov. 2y, Rufus Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 
Edgerly, of Durham. 

1802. Jan. 14, Noah Haines, of Rumney, and Betsy Nudd, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 25, Rufus Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 

Berry, of New Durham. 
Nov. 24, Levi Hide, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 

Gould, of Ossipee. 

1803. Feb. 24, Thomas Frost, of Wolfeborough, and Peggy 

Weeks, of Wakefield. 

Jan. 28, Tilly Lary, of Eaton, and Molly Tibbetts, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 9, Jacob Nutter and Betsy Clifford, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. — , Joseph Frost and Diadema Fernald, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 16, Joseph Jenness, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 
Weeks, of Wakefield. 

Nov. II, Benjamin Home, of Wolfeborough, and Judith 
Wiggin, of Stratham. 

Nov. 15, William Guppy, and Sally Marden, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 15, John Rogers and Nancy Tibbetts, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 15, Samuel Meder and Eleanor Rogers, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. — , John Piper and Nancy Young, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

1804. Feb. — , Capt. Reuben Libbey, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. 

Abigail Smith, of Durham. 
Jan. — , Thomas W. Chase, of Alton, and Nancy Chase, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 24, John Wiggin, of Portsmouth, and Polly Wiggin, 

of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 



359 



Feb. Henry Rust Parker and Hannah Home Rust, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 25, Joseph Ellis, of Middleton, and Dolly Willey, 
of Wolfeborough. 

May 24, Samuel Hide, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Sally 
Taylor, of Ossipee. 

Apr. 22, Samuel Mason and Betsy Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 10, James Hersey and Nancy Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 14, Matthias Ham, of Wolfeborough, and Abigail 
Hawkins, of Wakefield. 

1805. Jan. 26, Oliver Smith, of Alton, and Hannah Kent, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 3, James Johnson, of New Durham, and Huldah 

Brackett, of Wolfeborough. 
May 9, Levi Weeks, of Wakefield, and Betsy Willey, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul. 21, William Mallard, of Tuftonborough, and Betsy 

Fullerton, of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 5, Samuel Tibbetts, Jr., and Fannie Goldsmith, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 29, Ebenezer Meder, of Wolfeborough, and Miss 

Sarah Young, of Durham. 
Dec. 20, Nehemiah Lucas, and Nancy Marden, both of 

Wolfeborough. 

1806. Mar. 20, George G. Young, of Wolfeborough, and Elea- 

nor Sceggel, of Ossipee. 

May 29, Elijah Estes, of Wolfeborough, and Patty 
Roberts, of Ossipee. 

Jun. 4, George Whitton, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. 
Esther Gage, of Wakefield. 

Jun. 4. John Haines and Martha Nudd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



360 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Jun. 12, Stephen Piper, and Hannah Whitten, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 10, Joseph Kelly and Hannah Clifford, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. II, Samuel Piper, of Wolfeborough, and Mary Hoyt, 
of Stratham. 

Oct. 26, Isaac Drew, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Mehi- 
table Leighton, of Ossipee. 

Oct. 27, Henry Allard and Betsy Neal, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. — , William Tibbetts, of Brookfield, and Polly White- 
house, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 2y, Richard Rust and Sally Thurston, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1807. Feb. 8. Nathaniel Chase and Susannah Rust, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 10, Samuel Young, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 
Burleigh, of Ossipee. 

Mar. 25, Capt. Joseph Furbur, of Wolfeborough, and 
Sally Folsom, of New Market. 

Mar. 30, William Lear, of Ossipee, and Keziah Glover, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 18, Samuel Jenness and Sally Melvin, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 22, Timothy Tucker, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
Crockett, of Ossipee. 

July 5, John Furbur and Betsy Leavitt, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Sep. 7, Jeremiah Drew, of Wolfeborough, and Anna War- 
ren, of Tuftonborough. 

Sep. 14, Richard Nudd and Eleanor Haines, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 14, James Chamberlin, Jr., of Brookfield, and Betsy 
Ann Rust, of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



361 



Dec. 5, John Nutter, of Tufton1)oroiigh, and Sally Wig- 
gin, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 17, Ichabod Tibbetts and Anna Niite, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

1808. Jan. 14, Samuel Frost, of Wolfeborough, and Olive Jack- 

son, of Eaton. 

Apr. 24. John Kent, of Durham, and Susannah Leavitt, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 19, Nathaniel Cook, of Wakefield, and Joanna Cook, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 16, Henry Rust and Nancy Norris, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 17, Joseph Kent and Polly Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. 25, Isaac Willey and Polly Triggs, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. 29, Tobias Pray, of Brookfield, and Polly Young, 
of Wolfeborough. 

1809. Jan. 20, Morgan Lewis, of Alford, and Susannah Shorey, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 24, Samuel Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Sally Fer- 

nald, of Brookfield. 
Aug. 15, Adam Taft Brown and Sally Brown, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 28, James Haines, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 

Lord, of Parsonsfield. 
Sep. 20. Thomas Marden, of Jefferson, and Polly Rust, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 30, Abraham Doe, of Alton, and Nancy Kent, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 9, Joshua Wingate Chase and Ruth Home, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. — , James Jenness, of Wolfeborough, and Sally Cal- 

der, of Brookfield. 



362 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



1810. Mar. 1, Richard Rust and Mrs. Joanna Jewett, both of 

Wolfeborough. 

181 1. Mar. 18, Jacob Stanton, of Brookfield, and Sukey Fernald, 

of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 25, John Lucas, Jr., and Polly Rust, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 8, James Lucas 3d, and Eleanor Rust, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 12, Isaac Clough, of Parsonsfield, and Lydia Whit- 
ten, of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 12, William Chamberlain and Betsy Adams Home, 
both of Wolfeborough, 

Dec. 15, Jeremiah Connor and Abigail Wiggin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

1812. Nov. 12, Stephen Whitten and Eunice Earle, both of 

Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 6, Tilly Lary and Ruth Brown, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 29, Samuel Chesley, of Farmington, and Polly Fur- 
bur, of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 8, James Perkins and Huldah Seavey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 10, James Burke and Hannah French, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 12, Charles Wiggin and Abigail Meder, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 12, James Doe and Lydia Kent, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 26, Benjamin Edmunds, of Wolfeborough, and Han- 
nah Merrill, of South Hampton, 

Aug. 10, Parker Whittle and Hannah Goldsmith, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

181 3. Feb. 18, Benjamin Sceggel, of Ossipee, and Mary Young, 

01 Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 363 

Mar. II, John Hersey and Ruth Nudd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 5, John Furbur and Hannah Yeaton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 23, Samuel Sweat, of Wolfeborough, and Mehitable 
Neal, of Tuftonborough. 

1814. Jan. 6, Thomas Blaisdell, of Tuftonborough, and Polly 

Hersey, of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 26, Isaac Edmunds and Betsy Calder, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 6, Eleazer Ham, of Rochester, and Susanna Wiggin, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 13, Ivory Brackett, of Wolfeborough, and Sally 
Willey, of Brookf^eld. 

Sept. 29, Tristram Nute and Pamela Cotton, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. I, William Wiggin and Dolly Snell, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

181 5. Feb. 15, Oilman Folsom and Mary Rust, both of Wolfe- 

borough, 

Feb. 15, Nathaniel Rogers and Martha Rust, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 16, Stephen W. Home and Mary F. Calder, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. I, Adelphia Ricker, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 
Pierce, of Lebanon. 

Jun. 27, John Home, Jr. and Harriet S. Orne, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 8, Phineas Weeks and Patty Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 13. Joseph Nay, of Ossipee, and Mary Haines, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 13, James Taylor and Dorcas Lear, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



364 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Nov. 13, Mark W. Plummer and Sally M. Lary, both 
of WolfeV)orough. 

Nov. 20, Isaiah G. Orne, Esq. and Sarah Raynard, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 8, Thomas Chamberlin and Mary Rogers, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. I, Henry Rust 3d and Pamelia Home, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. 29, John Smith and Betsy Norriss, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1816. Jan 4, Thomas Baker and Miriam Whitten, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan. 21, Nathaniel Rust and Lydia Folsom, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb. 26, Benjamin Tibbetts and Abigail Doe, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 27, George Drew and Julian Yeaton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 4, Samuel Nudd and Nancy Perkins, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 22, John Home 3d, and Dorothy Willey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. — , William Triggs and Anna Maleham, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 19, John W. Home and Susey Wiggun, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 19, Elisha Dow, of Gilford, and Betsy Prescott, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 16, Joseph Piper and Betsy Shorey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 24, Ezekiel Key and Nancy Young, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 3, Stephen Tibbetts and Sally Stratton, both of Wolfe- 
borough, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



365 



Aug. 25, John Tuttle and Lucy Young, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 25, Charles Giles, of Brookfield, and Mary Warren, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 12, Sargeant Kimball, of Holderness, and Abigail 
Shortridge, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 26, Daniel Pike, of Wolfeborough, and Lavina Wal- 
lingford, of Dover. 

Dec. 12, Joseph Young, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 
Hodgdon, of Ossipee. 
1817. Feb. I, Doct. Thomas J. Tebbetts and Bets Ann Allen, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 4, Walter Avery and Sally Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb. 28, Wentworth Butler, of Berwick, and Mehkable 
Tebbetts, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 1, Joseph Edmonds and Mary Folsom, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 7, Valentine Willey and Abigail Prebble, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 8, Zebulon Home and Hannah Varney, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 25, Daniel White and Drussilla Witham, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 28, James Fullerton and Sophia B. Wiggin, both of 
W^olfeborough, 

May 8, Janathan Bean, of Tuftonborough, and Sally Keay, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. II, Joshua Brewster, of Rochester, and Elizabeth 
Shortridge, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 21, John Whittle, of New Boston, and Betsy Thurs- 
ton, of Wolfeborough, 

Oct. 13, Benjamin Nudd and Hannah Nudd, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



266 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Oct. 23, Benjamin Smith, of Ossipee, and Betsy Young, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 23, Isaac Stanton, of Brookiield, and Sally Hardy, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 6, Daniel W. Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza 
Keys, of Green, Me. 

Nov. 6, Caleb Weeks, of Wakefield, and Patience Dudley, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 6, John W. Yeaton, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 
Stevenson, of New Durham. 

Dec. 15, John Hurd, of Tuftonborough, and Molly Clif- 
ford, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 15, John H. Drew and Abigail Kent, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

1818. Jan. 12, Henry Veasey, of Tuftonborough, and Lois 

Allen, of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 19, Major Dudley Hardy, of Wolfeborough, and 

Abigail Hardy, of Kennebunk. 
Mar. 19, Ebenezer Judkins and Abigail Yeaton, both of 

Wolfeborough. 

Moses Cate, of Brookfield, and Abigail Brewster, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 18, Silas Tebbetts, of Rochester, and Abigail Nudd, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 30, Nathaniel Young, of Wolfeborough, and Patty 

Roberts, of Ossipee. 
Aug. 2, John Drew, Jr. and Nancy Thurston, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 8, Tliomas Triggs, of Wolfeborough, and Olive L. 

Maleham, of Wakefield. 
Oct. — , Josiah Cotton and Lydia Doe, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

1819. Feb. 3, Hezekiah Tebbetts and Rachael Burke, both of 

Wolfeboroug:h. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



367 



Dec. 31, Stephen Connor and Mrs. Abigail Triggs, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. I, John Neal, of Tuftonborough, and Abigail Her- 
sey, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 19, William Rust, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 
Wedgewood, of Parsonsfield. 

Mar. 9, James Cotton and Jane Edgerly, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 29, James Stevenson, of Glover, and Polly Drew, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 13, Adam Brown, of Wolfeborough, and Susan Plum- 
mer, of Milton. 

Sep. I, James Ricker, of Dover, and Elisabeth Whitten, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 28, James Folsom and Sally Rust, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 24, Jeremiah Wiggin and Mrs. Hannah Nudd, both 
of Wolfeborough. 
1820. Jan. 4, James Smith and Mary Young, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 20, Samuel Tebbetts and Sally Fernald, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. — , Samuel Nutt and Sally Wentworth, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 12, Nathaniel Rust and Fanny A. Wiggin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 19. Jonathan Hersey and Mrs. Susannah Moody, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 30, Colonel Josiah Chamberlin, Brookfield, and 
Betsy Guppy, of Wolfeborough. 

June 23, Joseph Morgan and Polly Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 26, Lewis Hayes, of Milton, and Sarah M. Clark, of 
Wolfeborougli 



368 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Jnn. 29, James Shortridge and Polly Nutt, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 29, Oliver Copp and Polly Home, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 8, Deering Stoddard and Mrs. Margaret Raynard, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 4, Joseph Haines, Jr. and Elizabeth Lucas, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 9, Enoch Dunn, of Dover, and Eliza Fullerton, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 16, Joseph Colby, of Newfield, Me., and Hannah 
Lary, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 23, Joseph Wiggin and Abigail Snell, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 18, Moses C. Piper and Eunice Baker, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. II, Davis Kenerson, of New Durham, and Abigail 
Moody, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 18, Jonathan Chase, of Alton, and Abigail Meserve, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 18, Jonathan Morrison, of Tuftonborough, and Bel- 
inda Libbey, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 27, John Folsom and Hannah Blake, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1821. Jan. 8, Samuel Houghton, of Fairlee, Vermont, and Mary 
Tebbetts of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. — , Daniel Wingate, of Farmington, and Sarah Wig- 
gin, of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. — , Stephen Stratton and Juda Tebbetts, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb. 28, Joseph Hayes, of Alton, and Betsy Brewster, of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 21, Jonathan P. Fernald, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
Pike, of Middleton. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. o5g 

Sep I, John Gate, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah Giles, 

of Brookfield. 
Sept. 1, Joseph Young and Susannah Key, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep. 3, Thomas Varney, of Wolfeborough, and Eleanor 

Tabor, of Berwick, Me. 
Oct. lo, John A. Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Susan 

Wiggin, of Tuftonborough. 
Nov. 14, Robert Goleman, of Ghichester, and Nancy Phil- 
brick, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 14, James Furnald, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Hodge, of Brookfield. 
Nov. 16, David Fullerton and Hannah Tebbetts, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1822. Jan. 7, William Fullerton, of Wolfeborough, and Abigail 
Piper, of Tuftonborough. 
Jan. — , John Phenix, Philips, Me., and Gelia Libbey, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 25, John Towle, of Wolfeborough, and Louise 

Roberts, of Ossipee. 
Feb. 25, Moses Edgerly, of Wolfeborough, and Sally 

Stillings, of Ossipee. 
Mar. 4, Samuel Meder, and Lydia Fullerton, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 27, Johnson Brown and Olive Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. I, John Locke, of Wakefield, and Elisabeth Fernald, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 18, Daniel Pickering and Sarah S. G. Farrar, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

July 2, Joseph Frost and Elisabeth Ghamberlin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 25, Bartholomew Gilman and Eliza Wiggin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



270 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Aug. 20, Joshua Hod.sdon, of Wolfeborough, and Priscilla 
Canney, of Ossipee. 

Sep. 15, Jonathan Tibbetts and Mehitable Perkins, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 2, WilHam Pinkham, of Wolfeborough, and Martha 
Hill of Wakefield. 

Nov, 12, James T. Home, of Wolfeborough, and Sophia 
Nute, of Madbury. 

Nov. 12, Robert Wiggin and Dolly Maria Craton, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 30, James Keay and Elizabeth Lary, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 27, John Lary and Lydia .Stackpole, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1823. Feb. — , Samuel Hayes, of Alton, and Margaret G. Brews- 
ter, of Wolfeborough. 

Feb 5, Nathaniel Home, of Wolfeborough, and Caroline 
Piper, of Stratham. 

Mar. 9, George F. Brewster, of Wolfeborough, and Joan 
D. Home, of Farmington. 

Mar. 10, Joshua Stackpole, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Mardin, of Tuftonborough. 

Mar. 10, Thomas Rust and Phoebe C. Piper, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 12, Moses Wiggin and Eunice Home, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 3, Stephen Giles, of Brookfield, and Statira Edgerly, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 17, Matthias Haines and Eliza Wiggin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 23, Ebenezer Allen and Mary F. Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 15, Josiah Willey, Jr. and Abigail Tibbetts, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 371 

Jun. 24, Napoleon B. Home and Deborah Burley, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 25, Nathaniel F. Wiggin and Abigail Oilman, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. II, Thomas B. Wiggin and Judith Bickford, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. II, Benjamin Warren and Mercy Davis, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 8, Samuel Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Joanna 

Meder, of Tamvvorth. 
Sep. 27, John Keay and Abigail Mardin, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep. — , Henry B. Rust and Hannah S. Jewett, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 6, Timothy Watson, of Wakefield, and Sally Willey, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 22, Capt. Aaron Roberts and Mary Bickford, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 23, Joseph Severance, of Tuftonborough, and Mary 

Moody, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 13, James Rogers and Clarissa Wiggin, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 25, Robert Martin, of Brookfield, and Julia Ann 

Huggins, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 30, Richard Rust, Esq., and Mrs. Eleanor Piper, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 30, Asa Ham and Sally Mardin, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1824. Jan. 16, Jonathan Brown, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Chase, of Alton. 
Feb. 8, Ebenezer Corson, of New Durham, and Margaret 

R. Davis, of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 15, Levi Towle, of Wolfeborough, and Sally Dudley, 

of Alton. 



372 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Mar. 29, Benjamin Ricker and Susanna Fogg, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 21, George W. Warren, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and 
Mary F. Allard, of Brookfield. 

May 19, Mark Lucas and Betsy Fogg, both of Wolfe- 
borough, 

Jun. 3, James Thurston and Martha Furbush, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 4, Charles W. Baker, of Brookfield, and Hannah 
Whitten, of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 4, George Folsom and Clarissa Lee, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 24, Samuel Fernald and Hannah Home, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 18, Asa Moody and Lois Mardin, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 13, Obadiah Stoddard and Sally Eaton, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 13, Calvin Corson, of New Durham, and Lucinda B. 
Seavey, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 16, Dudley Chamberlin, Jr. and Lydia N. Willey, 
both of Wolfeborough. 
1825. Jan. 3, George Drew and Alice Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan 3, Benjamin F. Thompson and Mary F. Brewster, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 4, Henry Home, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy Nute, 
of Madbury. 

Mar. 21, Joseph Hurd, of Dover, and Farragina Bickford, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 25, Thomas Blake, of Wakefield, and Abigail Hardy, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 26, Isaiah Mclntire, of Tuftonborough, and Sarah 
Ann N. Stevens, of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



373 



Apr. 25, Levi Cooper and Nancy Drew, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 18, Jesse Whitten and Betsy Drew, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 18, Joseph Moulton, of Ossipee, and Temperance Cot- 
ton, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 21, Ira Cook and Hannah Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 22, Stephen Mclntire and Pamela Welch, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 3, Andrew W. Weymouth and Mary Lary, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 5, John T. Parker and Sally L. Seavey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 25, Jonathan Hurd, of Ossipee, and Abigail Tibbetts, 
of Wolfeborough. 
1826. Jan. 10, Alpheus Swett and Susan Rogers, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan. 22, Jonathan Hersey and Abigail Keniston, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 18, William Thompson and Nancy Rogers, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 20, David Tappan Allen and Rosamond Key, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 20, Bradbury Edgerly, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
Cate, of Brookfield. 

May 29, Jeremiah Emerson, of Wakefield, and Mary 
Huckins, of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 4, John P. Morrison, of Fairlee, Vt., and Mehitable 
Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 8, Enoch M. Clark, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 
Hayes, of Milton. 

July 17, Daniel Brewster, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 
McDuflFee, of Alton. 



374 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Aug. 28, Levi Tibbetts, of Tuftonborough, and Mrs. Char- 
lotte Clark, of WoUeborough. 

Aug. 30, Moses P. Brown, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 
V. Quarles, of Ossipee 

Aug. 25, James Cotton and Abigail Knowles, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 27, William Towle and Ruth L. Dow, both of W^olfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 18, William W. Cook, of Milton, and Mary Yeaton, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 22, David Page and Eliza Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 30, George Whitehouse and Louisa Tibbetts, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

1826. Dec. 15, John Fox, of Wolfeborough, and Elizabeth 

A. Copp, of Tuftonborough. 

1827. Jan. 31, Elijah Home and Abigail Mason, both of Wolfe- 

borough. 

Feb. 21, Doct. Joseph Edgerly and Sally W. Furbur, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

March 3, Joel Cook and Mrs. Mary Cotton, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 3, Daniel Deland and Sarah Ann Estes, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 31, Robert L Clark and Rachel French, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 15, Daniel Burke and Sally W. ElHs, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 23, Daniel Drew, of Wolfeborough, and Ann Worm- 
wood, of Wakefield. 

May 30, William Whitehouse, of Wolfeborough, and 
Sophia Hartford, of Strafiford. 

May 29, James Nute, Jr., and Mary Nudd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



375 



Sep. I, William T. Cate, of Brookfield, and Betsy Cate, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. I, Dudley Libbey, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah Ann 
Wiggin, of Tiiftonborough. 

Sep. 10, James Towner, of Wolfeborough, and Harriet 
Coit, of Burlington, Vt. 

Sep. 25, Hale Young and Sophronia Nudd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 4, Charles Stackpole and Hannah T. Lucas, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 13, Jonathan Copp and Hannah Stoddard, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 5, Joseph Johnson and Lurannah Whitten, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 10, Isaac Willey and Mary Willey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. II, Captain George E. Nudd and Mrs. Abigail Ken- 
dall, both of Wolfeborough. 
1828. Jan. 7, William Goldsmith, of Ossipee, and Nancy Sceggel, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 21, Walter N. Cotton and Eleanor C. Chrischenson, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 19, Nathaniel Frost and Elisabeth M. Nudd, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 26, William Rust, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Polly 
Evans, of Alton. 

Apr. 3, Josiah W. Chase, of Wolfeborough, and Abigail 
Chase, of Alton. 

Jun. 2, Joseph Wiggin and Betsy Ann Wiggin, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul. 22, Calvin Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Joanna M. 

Pike, of Middleton. 
Jul. 24, David Chamberlin, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 
Evans, of Alton. 



376 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Aug. 12, Capt. Samuel Nudd and Nancy Frances Whit- 
ten, both of Wolfeborough. 

Aug. 20, Stephen Johnson, of Ossipee, and Sally Jenness, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 21, Moses Bates, of Somersworth, and Eliza Perkins, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 22, Peter Rowell, of Brentwood, and Mary Marston, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 27, James Brackett, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah Cro- 
well, of Lebanon. . 

Oct. 31, James Piper and Sally Wiggin, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 31, Henry Nudd and Jemima Babcock, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. 3, Moses Nute and Betsy Avery, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. 8, Edemond P. Wentworth and Nancy Willey, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 15, James Moulton, of Ossipee, and Sally Cotton, 
of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 22, Thomas J. Guppy and Catherine M. Kent, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 22, John P. Cotton and Mary B. Towio. both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1829. Feb. 15. Thomas B. Wiggin and Mary Young, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 15, Richard Home, of Tuftonborough, and Lydia 
Eaton, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 9, James W. Pike, of Wolfeborough, and Lucinda R. 
Furbush, of Lebanon. 

Mar. 10, Nathaniel Avery and Anna Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 7, Daniel Martin, of Wolfeborough, and Sophia W. 
Fernald, of Durham. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 377 

Aug. 23, Daniel Kimball and Susan Brown, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 4, Robert 1. Clark and Abigail Piper, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 6, Ira Pierce, of Wolfeborough, and Dorothy French, 
of Brookfield. 

Oct. 29, Joseph Stevenson and Hannah Bickford, both of 

Wolfeborough. 

Nov. I. William Chase, of Rochester, and Harriet Perkins, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 18, John McDufifee, of Alto», and Louise Rust, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 7, Hamilton Locke and Sophronia D. Frost, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 14. Stephen Home and Mary Ann Orne, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 24, William Rendall and Mary Ann Blake, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1830. Feb. 10, John J. Nutt, of Wolfeborough, and Joanna Went- 
worth, of Burton. 

Feb. 16, James Burley, of New Market, and Maria Wig- 
gin, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. II, Ira M. Weed, of Wolfeborough, and Caroline N. 
Dalton, of Hillsboro. 

May 5, Levi Philbrick and Lydia Tibbetts, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 23, William Fernald and Sophronia Chase, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 19, Jesse Nute, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah Gold- 
smith, of Ossipee. 

May 20, Samuel Thompson and Phcebe Rogers, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 13, James Bickford and Eleanor Johnson, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



378 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Jun. 28, David Blake and Abiah Brewster, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 5, Nathaniel Edgerly and Mary Furbiir, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. I, Stephen Nute and Mary Chamberlin, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 13. George O. Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza 
Rines, of Middleton. 

Sep. 27, William Clark and Mary Piper, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 2, William Western, of Wolfeborough, and Anna 
Kennerson, of Brookfield. 

Nov. 24, Levi Chase, of Tuftonborough, and Sarah Nute, 
of Wolfeborough. 
183 1. Feb. 20, Stephen Burke, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Dealing, of Brookfield. 

Mar. 7, John Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Abra Loid, 
of Lebanon. 

Mar. 7, Jeremiah Glidden and Betsy Clay, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 7, Samuel Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Abigail 
Hobbs, of Effingham. 

May — , Hezekiah Tibbetts and Mary Edgerly, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 28, Thomas Ham and Betsy Burke, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 12, Ezra Johnson, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy Per- 
kins, of Alton. 

Sep., Daniel Swett, of Tuftonborough, and Susan Keay, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 22. Silas Whitehouse and Mrs. Eunice Wiggin, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 22, James M. Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Caro- 
line B. Wiggin, of Tuftonborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 379 

Nov. 22, Ebenezer B. Burns and Mary Peavey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1832. Jan. 9. George B. Farrar, of Wolfeborough, and Susan 
Maria Dow, of Wakefield. 

Feb. 13, Moses Morse and Sally Atkinson, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Feb. 13, Benjamin Baker, of Alton, and Lydia Wedge- 
wood, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 13, Ivory Clough, of Parsonsfield, and Susan Rollins, 
of W^olfeborough. 

Apr. 16, John L. Swinerton and Ann A. Robinson, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 4. Elliott Cotton and Sarah Libbey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

David S. Bean, of Wolfeborough, and Susan Weeks, of 
Alton. 

Jun. 20, John Newell, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Cook, of Wakefield. 

Jul. 29, Mark W. Avery and Dorcas Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 26, Daniel Copp and Nancy Willey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Joseph Young and Maria Langley, both of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 2"/, Thomas J. Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 
Drew, of Tuftonborough. 

Nov. 5, Lewis B. Key, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Knox, of Lowell. 

Nov. 5, William P. Guppy, of Wolfeborough, and Oliv^ 
Key, both of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 25, Joseph P. Rust and Mary J. Chamberlin, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 25, Daniel Twombly and Frozilla Nute, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



38o 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



1833. Jan. 3, Albert Newhall of Lynn, and Hannah S. Keys, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 20, Bradbury Keys, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy H. 
Whitehouse, of Brookfield. 

Jan. 20, Levi Towle and Rebecca Dudley, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jan. 20, Augustus W. Orne, of Wolfeborough, and Eunice 
N. Clark, of Portsmouth. 

Jan. 26, William Brackett, of Wolfeborough, and Eleanor 
Folsom, of Ossipee. 

Feb. 7, Joshua Goldsmith, of Ossipee, and Sally Haines, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 25, John F. Cotton, of Wolfeborough^ and Mary 
Young, of Ossipee. 

Apr. I, George W. Leavitt, and Elizabeth A. Fros~, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

A])r. I, Jeremiah Towle, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
Blazo, of Parsonsfield. 

Apr. I, Nathan Clay, of Wolfeborough, and Mary Dow, 
of Meredith. 

Apr. 7, John W. Yeaton and Sally P. Smith, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 15, Seth W. French, of Alton, and Abigail Watson, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 21, Richard Abbott, of Effingham, and Jane Young, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 20, John Durrell, of Tam worth, and Olive Witham, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 18, Nathaniel Rogers and Eleanor Jane Piper, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 27, Daniel R. Gerralds and Lydia Key, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Dec. I, George Brewster, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Betsy 
H. Hersey, of Tuftonborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



381 



1834. Jan. II, Thomas L. Whitton and Sally Morse, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jan. 13, Elijah Meader, of Dover, and Mrs. Abigail Cate, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Jan. 30. James M. Locke, of Wakefield, and Sarah T. Fox, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 2, Clark Hersey, of Wolfeborough, and Olive L. Tre- 

feren, of Salem, Mass. 
Feb. 25. Mr. Brackett, of Ossipee, and Lydia Dame, of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 25, Charles Cottle, of Brookfield, and Mrs. Eliza 

Page, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 10, John Frost, of Wolfeborough, and Lavinia De- 
land, of Brookfield, 
Apr. 16, William B. Stevens, of Ossipee, and Mary J. 

Young, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 10, Oilman C. Melcher and Elizabeth Rines, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
May 7, Nathaniel Piper, of Tuftonborough, and Sally 

Brewster, of Wolfeborough. 
May 4, William Dame, of Ossipee, and Hannah Keniston, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 26, John Clough and Mrs. Mehitable Whitehouse, 

both of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 9, William Haley, of Tuftonborough, and Mary Ann 

Hersey, of Wolfeborough. 
' May 4, Samuel Flint, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy V. 

Wedgcwood, of Greenland. 
Nov. 9, George Fox and Drusilla C. Hersey, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 9, Matthew S. Parker and Clarissa Blake, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 9, James Fogg and Betsy L. Furbur, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



382 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Nov. 22, Levi Remick, of Wolfeborough, and Mary Ann 
Durgpln, of Tuftonborotigh. 

Dec. 28, Daniel Chamberlain, of South Natick, and Maria 
M. Martin, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 29, George W. Libbey and Sally E. Young, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 29, George Rust, of Wolfeborough, and Drisilla B. 
Davis, of Alton. 
1835. ]nn. 18, Jethro Home, of New Durham, and Nancy Cot- 
ton, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. I, John Newell, of Brookline, Mass., and Susan Nute, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 10, Andrew J. Drew, of Wolfeborough, and i.ydia 
W. Veazey, of Ossipee, 

Mar, 10, Elijah Hersey and Hannah Haines, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 10, John Chamberlin, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 
Tebbetts, of Brookfield. 

May 23, John Young, of Wolfeborough, and Lucinda Bur- 
leigh, of Ossipee. 

May 23, Jeremiah Towle and Mary Towle, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 7, Edward Trask, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza Cottle, 
of Brookfield. 

Jun. 28, Addison F. Burleigh and Olive Hayes, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 26, William Tebbetts, of Brookfield, and Mary Ann 
M. Smith, of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 26, John L. Furbur and Sarah Fogg, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 17, John M. Brackett and Sarah Thompson, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 6, Simon Fogg and Elisabeth C. Wingate, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. og^ 

Sep. 26, Levi Veazey, of Tuftonborougli, and Sarah 

Young, of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 2y, Daniel Coleman, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Ann Whidden, of Portsmouth. 
Oct. T3, Jo.seph Fall, of Ossipee, and Sarah Ann Brown, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 7, Benjamin Philbrick and Mary Johnson, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 9, John R. Hayes and Abiah B. Hayes, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 16, Josiah Caverly, of Boston, and Hannah S. 

Newell, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 29. Lewis L. Whitehouse and Sarah Bickford, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 21, Ira Home and Eliza D. Mason, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1836. Jan. 21, Chandler Eaton, of Wolfeborough, and Mary J. 
Cottle, of Brookfield. 
Jan. 21, John Tuttle, of Somersworth, and Hannah J. Fox, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. II, Samuel L. Mclntire and Mary C. Mclntire, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 2S, Thomas J. Avery and Ann B. Cotton, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
May 2, Joshua Stackpole and Mrs. Rosamond Allen, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Jul. 17, Ezra Pinkham and Caroline P. Rust, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 31, Otis Key. of Wolfeborough, and Salome Small, of 

Gilford. 
Oct. 2, Josiah Wentworth, of Alton, and Betsy Ann Lucas, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 2, Charles Ayers, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy Maria 

Chamberlin, of Tuftonborough. 



384 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Oct. 13, Mark fernald, of Wolfeborough, and Mary C. 

Furbish, of South Berwick. 
Nov. 7, William Lucas and Polly T. Kimball, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 28, William B. Furbur, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Jane Wallace, of Boston. 
1837. Jan. 15, Thomas L. Nudd and Fanny Lord, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jan. 20, Nathaniel Willey, of Wolfeborough, and Harriet 

Roberts, of Alton. 
Jan. 28, David Chamberlin, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 

C. Pike, of Brookfield. 
Feb. 5, Geoige W. Libbey and Ruth W. Shorey, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 19, Nicholas C. Copp and Almira A. Fullerton, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 19, William Deland, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 

Deland, of Dover. 
Feb. 19, Thomas Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 

F. Bickford, of Tuftonborough. 
Mar. 5, Benjamin F. Garland and Mary F. Whitten, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 5, Peter Key, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Lavina 

Burroughs, of Alton. 
Mar. 14, Daniel Jenness, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza 

Meserve, of Limington, Me. 
Apr. 4, Aaron Roberts, of Wolfeborough, and Maria A. 

Gage, of Wakefield. 
Apr. 4, Joseph Ayers, of Barrington, and Susan W. 

Piper, of Wolfeborough. 
May 10, James Burke, Jr. and Esther Willey, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul. II, Joseph Goodhue, of Brookfield, and Hannah 
Stevenson, of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. ^gc 

Aug. 14, Stephen Tebbetts and Mary Ann Sceggel, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 16, Stephen A. Bickford, of Ossipee, and Hannah A. 

Young, of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 16, Jeremiah L. Young and Mary A. Jackson, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 22, George Y. Furbur and Jane Thompson, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 27, Moses Thompson and Mrs. Sally Edgerly, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 30, Frederick T. Leavitt and Mary Whitten, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 22, Samuel T. Piper, of Tuftonborough, and Eleanor 

Knox, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. II, J. Forrest Hall and Annette Augusta Livy, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
1838. Feb. 28, Ezra Hardy, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza Hardy, 

of Wakefield. 
Feb. 26, David G. Kimball, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Evans, of Alton. 
May 7, Matthias Haines and Hannah Blanchard, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 12, Phineas Johnson, of Brookfield, and Hannah 

Young, of Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 23, Thomas Nute and Adeline Nudd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jul. 20, Daniel Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Eliza K. 

Lang, of Brookfield. 
Aug. 20, Samuel Shorey and Nancy Drew, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jun. 4, Leonard Shortridge and Rosella Fernald, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 26, Ebenezer Wingate, of Wolfeborough, and Susan 

Ricker, of Milton. 



386 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Nov. 20, David J. Folsom, of Tamworth, and Harriet N. 

Gate, of Wolfeboroug-h. 
Nov. 20, Charles G. Edgerly, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Wiggin. of Tuftonborough. 
Nov. 20, Samuel Haley, of Moultonborough, and Mary 

Wiggin, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 20, Jethro R. Furbur, of Wolfeborough, and Susan 

Elison, of Dover. 

1839. Jan. 5. Gyrus B. Ganney, of Tuftonborough, and Statira 

H. Nute, of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 14, Levi T. Hersey, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah H. 
Piper, of Tuftonborough. 

Jan. 14, Lyford Shorey and Betsy Willey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 12, Adam Brown, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah Ann 
Pickering, of Newington. 

Apr. 12, Gharles Folsom, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 
Richards, of Rochester, 

May II, Gharles Remick and Elisabeth G. Huggins, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 18, Jacob Eastman and Mahala G. Morgan, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 8, Thomas J. Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Sophia 
M. Huntress, of StralTord. 

Nov. I, Rev. Leander Thompson, of Woburn, Mass., and 
Ann Eliza Avery, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. I, Michial Hicks and Dolly Rollins, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 30, John F. Desmases, of Ossipee, and Mary Melissa 
Tebbetts, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. II, Henry Rust, of Wolfeborough, and Lucinda Han- 
cock, of Meredith. 

1840. Jan. 14, Jonathan H. Burleigh, of Tuftonborough, and 

Garoline Tebbetts, of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



387 



Jan. 14, Samuel Dealing and Lydia P. Doe, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jan. 20, Andrew Swett, of Danvers, Mass., and Olive Jane 

Doe, of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 25, Robert Estes and Betsy Shepherd, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Mar. 6, George W. Home, of Wolfeborough, and Nancy 

Thurston, of Charlestown, Mass. 
Aug. 30, William P. Cotton and Mary Libbey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 29, Samuel J. Stevenson and Mary Ann Rines, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 25, Benjamin Lucas and Polly Willey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 25, Moses Thompson and Hannah M. Rust, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 25. Moses Ham and Betsy Ham, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 12, Charles P. Sanborn and Betsy C. Perkins, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 2, Lewis B. Canney, of Tuftonborough, and Mary Ann 
Cotton, of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 14, David Shaw, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Judith 
Morrison, of Parsonsfield. 

Jul. 25, James Libbey, of Porter, Me., and Mary W. Nute, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 31. Oilman Cooper, of Tuftonborough, and Sarah D. 
Barker, of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 20, John S. Eastman and Sally Hodgdon, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 6, Benjamin B. Tibbetts and Elisabeth Brown, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 15, Bradbury Quint and Sally Tuttle, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



388 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Oct. 6, James R. PYost and Esther Ann Young, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 25, Winthrop B. Tibbetts and OHve Rollins, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 12, Nathaniel Hicks, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy I. 
Watson, of New Durham. 

Nov. 12, Moncere R. Merrifield and Miriam Whitten, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 20, Daniel Shepherd and Hannah Estes, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 25, James F. Dixon and Betsy A. P. Rust, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 25, Rufus Knight, of Waterbury, Me., and Mary Phil- 
brick, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 30, Ira Chamberlin and Mrs. Mary Burns, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 30, Eld. David B. Cowell, of Lebanon, Me., and 
Christiana B. Coffin, of Wolfeborough. 
1841. Jan. 26, Alvah Rollins, of Wolfeborough, and Emily Peary, 
of Brookfield. 

Jan. T, Benjamin G. Young and Emily C. Home, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 30, John C. Drew and Sarah C. Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 8, George M. Garland, of Ossipee, and Joanna 
Moody, of Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 23, Joseph Jenness and Eliza A. Hawkins both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 12, Francis Nute and Belinda Jenness, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 10, James J. Rendall and Mary C. Rogers, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
, Jun. 7, Oliver P. Copp and Hannah Edmonds, both of 

Wolfeborough. 



HI8T0RY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. ogn 

Jul II, Hezekiah Williams and Abig-ail Nute, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 1 6. Joseph P. Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Jerusha 

Tucker, of Ossipee. 
Aug. 23, Johnson Jenness, of Wolfeborough, and Elisa- 
beth P. Clark, of Wakefield. 
Sep. 20, George Brewster, of Wolfeborough, and Lois 

McDuffee, of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 20, Anthony W. Chase, of Wolfeborough, and Han- 
nah G. Chase, of Tuftonborough. 
Oct. 24, William P. Cotton and Lavina Home, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 2, Daniel Blake and Sarah A. Bickford, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 2, Ebenezer Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 

F. Fall, of Ossipee. 
Nov. 2, Matthew S. Parker, of Wolfeborough. and Elisa- 
beth Perkins, of Alton. 
Nov. 12, Stephen D. Edmonds, of Wolfeborough, and Lucy 

Goodwin, of Dover. 
Nov. 27, Benjamin B. Tebbetts, of Wolfeborough, and 

Frances J. Dearborn, of Wakefield. 
Dec. 20, Nathaniel C. Home and Louisa Fogg, both of 
Wolfeborouofh. 
1842. Feb. 8. John N. Bassett, of Tuftonborough, and Lydia 
Langley, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 13, Daniel Lucas, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah F. 

Chesley, of New Durham. 
Jun. 30, Lemuel Chesley, of Wolfeborough, and Lucy M. 

Morrison, of Alton. 
Jun. 30, James Gate, of Loudon, and Mary Jane Gate, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 13, Charles G. Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Jane 
E. Furbush. 



3Q0 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Aug. 4, John Maleham, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah Mor- 
gan, of Effingham. 

Sep. 5, Isaac Willey, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah Lang, of 
Wakefield. 

Sep. 26, Charles F. French, of Manchester, and Eleanor R. 
Meader, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 18, Soliman Abbott, of Boston, and Hannah C. 
Mason, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 22, Daniel Bassett, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Eliza 
J. Canney, of Dover. 

Nov. 7, John Osborn Doe, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
Ba/ker, of Alton. 

Nov. 2y, Silas Durgin and Mary R. Rogers, both of Wolfe- 
borough 

Dec. 2, Alphonzo H. Rust and Betsy R. Furbur, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 5, Rev, N. C. Coffin, of Fearing, Ohio, and Susan J. 
Rust, of Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 12, Augustus C. Shaw and Lydia K. Lucas, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 20, Asa Perkins and Eliza F. Parker, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1843. Feb. 4, Samuel Wyatt and Elisabeth J. Moodey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

John F. ChamberHn, of Brighton, Mass., and Julia Ann 
Ayers, of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 4, Otis Evans and Shuah M. Libbey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 7, Joseph M. Morgan and Mary M. Glidden, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 30, Thaniel Home and Caroline Folsom, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 30, John Deland, of New Durham, and Almira Pierce, 
of Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



391 



Apr. 30, John Estes and Emila Jane Marden, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun, 5, Henry Emery, of Boston, Mass., and Betsy A. 

Martin, of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 17, James Sceggel, Jr. and Sophia Nute, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 18, John C. Leavitt and Betsy S. Rust, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep. 18, James Edgerly and Nancy Wedgewood, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 2, Jonathan Bickford, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and 

Elisabeth J. Downes, of Salem, Mass. 
George W. Nute and Hannah G. Chamberlin, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 20, George Haines, of Wolfeborough, and Margarett 

Lord, of Ossipee. 
Nov. 2y, James Canney and Betsy Ann Cotton, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 4, John W. Bickford and Dorothy Bickford, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
1844. Jan. 29, Nathaniel Banfield, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

A. Young, of Milton. 
Feb. 12, James Bartlett, of Haverhill, Mass., and Patience 

Hawkins, of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 2, Eld. George O. Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and 

Rebecca Kendal, of Dover. 
Mar. 12, Charles Nowell and Eleanor Jane Rogers, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 20, Nathan Morrison and Ann C. Fullerton, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 22, William K. Lucas and Ann Elisabeth Dockham, 

both of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 22, Franklin Leslie, of Derry, Mass., and Hannah P. 

Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough. 



392 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Apr. 29, Edward T. Hiscox, of Westerly, R. I., and Caro- 
line Orne, of Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 3, Samuel B. Sawyer and Susan Maleham, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 20, Samuel Marden, of Jeflferson, and Eliza J. Frost, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Jun. 7, Joshua Stackpole and Mrs. Louisa Home, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul. I, Joseph L. Dixon and Mary E. Fernald, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 6, Thomas C. Bickford and Mehitable Plummer, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 26, Orin Dixon and Maria R. Fernald, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 26, William Pinkham, of Wolfeborough, and Mary F. 

Chase, of Alton. 
Sep. 7, Charles B, Edgerly, of New Durham, and Lavinia 

E. Home, of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 13, Charles Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Ann 

Dearborn, of Wakefield. 
Nov. 4. Ezra B. Hersey, of Wolfeborough, and Ann E. 

Piper, of Tuftonborough. 
Nov. I r, Joseph H. Nudd and Eliza Ann Chamberlin, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 9. James Nute, of Ossipee, and Eleanor H. Nudd, of 

Wolfeborough. 
1845. Apr. 12, Benjamin Edgerly, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 

Ann Morrison, of Ossipee. 
May 2, William L. Furbur, of Wolfeborough, and Louisa 

A. Cate, of Brookfield. 
Jul. 21, Benjamin Prebble and Sarah Tebbetts, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. I, Ezra Tebbetts and Debora Rollins, both of 

Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 393 

Aug. 6, Benjamin B. Smith, of Wolfeborough, and Alvira 

M. Leighton, of Ossipee. 
Sep. 3, James G. Brown, of Lynn, Mass., and Christiana 

A. Dame, of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. 29, Joseph C. Woodman, of Boston, Mass., and Sarah 

Ann Demeritt, of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 8, Joseph Kent, of Granby, Lower Canada, and Betsy 

C. Lucas, of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 13, Thomas Triggs and Mrs. Hannah Fullerton, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. I, Joshua P. Ayers, of Wolfeborough, and Mary Jane 

C. Hurd, of Acton, Me. 
Nov. 3, Joseph P. Shorey, of Wolfeborough, and Almira 

Earle, of North Berwick, Me. 
Nov. 3, Nicholas B. Abbott, of Tuftonborough, and Ruth 

Ann Haines, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 25, Nathaniel K. Hunt, of New Durham, and Sarah 

C. Leavitt, of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 21, Charles Stackpole and Mary H. Cook, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 29, Loammi Hardy, of Ossipee, and Mary B. Haines, 

of Wolfeborough. 
Dec. 29, Charles R. Coleman and Olive A. Deland, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
1846. Jan. 2T. James M. Locke, of Barrington, and Izetta J. 

Plummer, of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 28, Moses Ellis and Adeline P. White, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
May 10, John Maleham and Jane T. Keay, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
May 18, John H. Young, of Wolfeborough, and Catherine 

J. Cook, of Wakefield. 
May 18, John A. Cook, of Wakefield, and Sarah Young, of 

Wolfeborough. 



394 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Jun. 29, Samuel D. Hasty, of South Berwick, Me., and 
Sarah E. Warren, of Wolfeborough. 

Aug. 24, Thomas Chamberlin, of Brookfield, and Nancy 
Home, of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 10, William Watson and Martha A. H. Watson, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 4, H. Dearborn Canney, of Tuftonborough, and 
Martha J. Haines, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 18, John Home and Nancy Home, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Oct. 26, Stephen F. Moulton, of Tamworth, and Sarah 
Warren, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 17, John Hackett, of Andover, Mass., and Abigail N. 
Stevenson, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 30, Deering F. Stoddard, of Wolfeborough, and 
Sophronia T. Goodale, of Danvers, Mass. 
1847. Msi"- ^» Frederick W. Home and Sarah E. Allen, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

May 31, Matthias M. Haines, of Wolfeborough, and Han- 
nah S. Haines, of Dover. 

Jun. 14, Richard R. Chase and Lucy T. Shortridge, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Jun. 27, John Kelly and Harriet Byron Guppy, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 5, Samuel Hayes, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Abigail 
Wentworth. of Alton. 

Aug. 16, Charles H. Burke, of Wolfeborough, and Lucy 
B. Wentworth, of Lebanon, Me. 

Sep. 6, Stephen Ayers, of Wolfeborough, and Tamson 
Roberts, of Ossipee. 

Sep. 12, Henry A. Whitton and Lydia K. Drew, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 18, Nathaniel Tuttle and Sarah Brown, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 395 

Oct. 28, Joshua B. Johnson and Hannah R. Perkins, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 28, John Haines, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Rachel 

Haines, of Rumney. 
Nov. 25, James W. Shorey, of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 

S. Libbey, of Wakefield. 
Nov. 26, John C. Frost and Lucinda A. Chamberlin, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 27, Charles Drew, of Wolfeborough, and Ann Rollins, 

of Alton. 
1848. Jan. 8, Charles Rollins, of Boston, Mass., and Caroline 

Dana Pickering, of Wolfeborough. 
Jan. 22, Daniel Rollins and Elisabeth Brown, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 8, Benjamin Folsom and Mrs. Sarah Glidden, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 17, George K. Brown, of Moultonborough, and 

Mahala Piper, of Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 13, John T. Langdon and Sarah P. Libbey, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 14, Thomas A. Johnson and Lydia Edmonds, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 27, William Willey, of Conway, and Mrs. Nancy 

Rogers, of W^olfeborough. 
Apr. 4, George P. Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Rebecca 

A. Kendall, of Dover. 
Apr. 4, Richard Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. 

Polly E. Gilman, of Tamworth. 
Apr. 22, James P. Hersey and Clara J. Willey, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
May 29, Jesse W. Clough, of Wolfeborough, and Sabrina 

Wentworth, of Berwick, Me. 
May 29, William H. FuUerton and Emily Orne, both of 

Wolfeborough. 



396 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Jul. 3, E. Davis Barker, of Wolfeborough, and Betsy H. 
Mooney, of Alton. 

Jul. 15, Hiram C. Kenney and Clarissa Dore, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 25, Alonzo F. Tibbetts and Betsy W. Haines, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Aug. 29, Benjamin Stanton, of Lebanon, Me., and 
Catherine P. Coflfin, of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 4, Nathaniel Huggins and Ruth P. Nudd, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 12, Benjamin F. Thompson and Mrs. Hannah Wig- 
gin, both of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 2, James A. Piper, of Tuftonborough, and Julia A. 
Hersey, of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 14, Jeremiah Emerson, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. 
Phcebe Dame, of Dover. 

Oct. 16, Nicholas Nute, Jr., of Wolfeborough, and Lydia 
Ann Colcord, of Tuftonborough. 

Nov. 15, John S. Hurd, of Farmington, and Joanna H. 
Brewster, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 25, Samuel Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. 
Mary M. G. Whitehouse, of Wakefield. 
1849. J^"- 8, Addison S. Burleigh, of Wolfeborough, and Caro- 
line D. Hayes, of Rochester. 

Jan. 29, Ivory H, Young, of Wolfeborough, and Fanny 
A. Underwood, of Saxonville, Mass. 

Feb. 19, Albert Bennett, of Alton, and Hannah Pike, of 
Wolfeborough. 

Mar. 6, Paul Nute and Mary A. Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 9, John Kent, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Sarah 
Trafton, of Moultonborough. 

Apr. 10, Mark T. Wiggin, of Wolfeborough, and Angelina 
P. Graves, of Tuftonborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



397 



Apr. 30, Harris W. Morgan and Jane C. Edgerly, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

May 14, Cyrus Brook and Mary A. Dixon, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

May 14, Charles C. Kendall and Charlotte B. Cotton, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

May 30, Samuel Johnson and Betsy Kent, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 9, Ira Whittle and Abigail H. Smith, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Aug. 13, Ambrose Deland, of Wolfeborough, and Hannah 
Evans, of Alton. 

Aug. 6, Charles C. Whitehouse and Lydia Ann Glidden, 
both of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 24, John C. Edgerly, of Wolfeborough, and Mary J. 
Deland, of New Durham. 

Nov. 5, Charles B. Lucas and Mrs. Mary Rust, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 26, Thomas J. Tebbetts, Jr. and Sarah E. Locke, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

May 2G, Leonard Shortridge, of Brookfield, and Mary J. 
Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough. 
1850. Jan. I, David C. Rogers and Sarah E. Clark, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. I, John G. Chamberlin and Mary E. Willey, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 17, Andrew J. Fullerton and Mary Getchell, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jan. 29, Charles C. Whitehouse and Jane Glidden, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Feb. 25, William Gate and Abigail Willey, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Apr. 17, Samuel H. Walker, of Boston, Mass., and Mary 
E. Edmonds, of Wolfeborough. 



398 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Apr. 27, Samuel B. Sceggel, of Ossipee, and Eliza Young, 
of Wolfeboroug'h. 

May 4, John A. Chamberlin, of Brookfield, and Louisa 
Demeritt, of Wolfeborough. 

May 8, Ivory P. Keniston and Mary J. Thompson, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jun. II, David Blake, of Wolfeborough, and Martha 
Hayes, of Rochester. 

Jtm. 8, Moses Thompson and Ruth Ann Parker, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Jul. 4, Francis B. Cook and Sarah A. Lucas, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 4, Henry Stoddard and Sophia Nute, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 4, Benjamin F. Parker and Harriet B. Whitten, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 4, Hamilton Locke and Dorcas Guptill, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 30, Ellis A. Upton, of Washington, and Mary E. 
Goldsmith, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 22, Joseph Dearborn, of Wakefield, and Hannah P. 
Tibbetts, of Wolfeborough. 

Nov. 23, John L. Goldsmith and Almira Brown, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
185 1. Feb. 8, Nathan Morrison and Alice A. Doe, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Mar. 10, James Stillings and Mrs. Hannah Edgerly, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 2, William A. Smith, of Wolfeborough, and Sophia 
S. Young, of Rochester. 

Apr. 24, James Fullerton and Mary A. Waterhouse, both 
of Wolfeborough. 

Apr. 14, Benjamin L. Nudd, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 
A. Griflfin, of Lee. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. ^gg 

Jun. 29, William Tibbetts and Lucinda G. Plummer, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Sep. I, Charles F. Parker and Elisabeth Boyle, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Oct. 13, Selah P. Gridley, of Saco, Me., and Mary J. 

Home, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 17, Eli C. Swett, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah M. 

Hersey, of Tuftonborough. 
Nov. 17, William Kilgore, of Waterford, Me., and Abba 

Cotton, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 27, Joshua B. Haines and Hannah Fernald, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1852. Jan. 26, Silas Durgin and Caroline F. Gale, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Jan. 26, Jeremiah W. Dearborn and Fanny M. Warren, 

both of Wolfeborough. 
Feb. 16, Henry G. Home and Martha E. Mason, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 8, Daniel Martin and Mrs. Abigail Nudd, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Mar. 9, William W. Dorr, of Ossipee, and Nancy N. Fer- 
nald, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. I, Thomas Lucas and Mrs. Caroline P. Pinkham, 

both of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 24, Oliver P. Felker of Barrington, and Eunice D. 

Cotton, of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 27, John Fall, of Ossipee, and Hannah N. Avery, of 

Wolfeborough. 
May 22, Charles C. Dudley and Lydia A. Tibbetts, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Jul. 5, John W. Towle and Mary F. Goldsmith, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. 9, John M. Kimball and Rosina Rollins, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



400 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Aug. 20, Jonathan L. Moore, of Wolfeborough, and Lucy 

J. Sanborn of Sanbornton. 
Sep. I, Charles Nowell and Mary G. Clark, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep. I, Joseph Varney, of Wolfeborough, and Emma G. 

Whitchouse, of Rochester. 
Sep. 7, Alvah Rollins and Eliza Kimball, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
Sep. 7, Matthias M. Haines, of Wolfeborough, and Vianna 

Home, of Boston, Mass. 
Oct. i8, Ephraim H. Bradley, of Wolfeborough, and 

Clarissa A. Lougee, of Alton. 
Oct. 19, Daniel Wood, of Boston, Mass., and Charlotte E. 

Rust, of Wolfeborough. 
Nov, 3, Benjamin F. Mason and Hannah R. Hersey, both 

of Wolfeborough. 
Nov. 22, John W. Avery and Susan Home, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 
1853. Apr. II, Ezra F. Johnson and Elisabeth W. Sanborn, both 
of Wolfeborough. 
Apr. 28, William Corson, of Alton, and Susan R. Hayes, 

of Wolfeborough. 
May 2, Gersham Bickford, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

Jackson, of Tamworth. 
May II, Miles Randall, of Wolfeborough, and Adeline 

Weeks, of Wakefield. 
May 24, George K. Warren, of Wolfeborough, and Mary 

E. Nason, of Dover. 
Jun. 15, Nathaniel H. Cotton, of Wolfeborough, and Sarah 

E. Tebbetts, of Brookfield. 
Jun. 26, Jones Marden and Lucinda W. Warren, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Aug. II, John Tebbetts, Jr., and Abbie F. Allen, both of 
Wolfeborough. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. .qI 

Aug. II, Stephen D. Avery, of Strafford, and Ann M. 
Allen, of Wolfeborough. 

Sep. ID, Charles F. Kimball and Mary F. Warren, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 12, Daniel Clough and Susan F. Morgan, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Sep. 26, Moses B. Beacham, of Ossipee, and Hannah Nute, 
of Wolfeborough. 

Oct. 29, Reuben H. Copp, of Lebanon, Me., and Hannah 
J. Burke, of Wolfeborough, 

Nov. 7, John G. Gate and Anna A. Glark, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Nov. 26, Benjamin Morrison and Fannie Foss, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 7, William P. Hersey and Lucinda Avery, both of 
Wolfeborough. 

Dec. 19, John Parsons and Mrs. Tamson Thayer, both of 
Wolfeborough. 
1854. May I, Benjamin F. Trickey, of Wolfeborough, and Elisa- 
beth G. Rand, of New Durham. 
May 29, Joseph J. Whitten and Lavonia G. Fogg, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
July 10, Benjamin F. Blaisdell, of Lebanon, Me., and 

Dorothy Pierce, of Wolfeborough. 
July ID, John Glough and Betsy Ann Lang, both of Wolfe- 
borough. 

Jul. 12, George F. Gook and Mrs. Sarah A. Frost, both of 

Wolfeborough. 
Jul. 31, Frederic Gage, of Kenosha, Wis., and Caroline C. 

Roberts, of Wolfeborough. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

WOLFEBOROUGH AND TUFTONBOROUGH AcADEMY — FiRST MEET- 
ING OF Proprietors — Incorporation — Academy Lot — 
Trustees — Academy Building — Officers and Students 
IN 1823 — Teachers and Students in 1836 — Henry Wil- 
son — Lyceum — Christian Institute — Brewster Free 
Academy — Extract from Will of John Brewster — 
Charter — Trustees — Teachers — Academy Grounds — 
Early Libraries — Brewster Library — Town Trustees 
appointed. 

ABOUT 1820 there seems to have been in Wolfeborough an in- 
creased interest in educational matters which led to the 
adoption of measures to establish an academy. On the fourth 
day of May, 1820, a meeting was held at the inn of Ichabod 
Libbey, at which Jonathan Blake was appointed chairman, and 
Daniel Pickering, secretary. At this meeeting it was voted to 
raise by subscription a sum equal to five thousand dollars for a 
fund with which to erect a building for an academy and other pur- 
poses. Each donor was to pay on the sum subscribed six per cent 
annually for ten successive years, and that was to be in full for 
his obligation. At an adjourned meeting, Henry H. Orne, An- 
drew Lucas, Jr., and Samuel Avery were appointed a committee 
to draft a petition for an act of incorporation, and Samuel Avery, 
Nathaniel Rogers, Henry H. Orne, Henry Rust, 3d, James 
Hersey, James Folsom, and Henry R. Parker, a committee to ob- 
tain subscriptions and superintend the erection of an academy 
building. Five thousand two hundred and seventy dollars were 
pledged in sums varying from thirty to three hundred and fifty 
dollars. 

The academy was incorporated June, 1820. The charter was 
403 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



403 



granted to Samuel Avery, Jonathan Blake, Daniel Pickering, and 
their associates. It authorized the association to hold real estate 
of the value of fifteen thousand dollars exempt from taxation. The 
academy lot of one acre was deeded by Stephen Pickering, of 
Greenland, and Daniel Pickering, of Wolfeborough, to Samuel 
Avery, Nathaniel Rogers, Henry R. Parker, Henry Rust, 3d, 
James Folsom, Henry H. Orne, of Wolfeborough, and James 
Hersey, of Tuftonborough. 

At a meeting of the proprietors held October 21, 1820, the fol- 
lowing persons were chosen trustees : Henry H. Orne, Samuel 
Avery, Samuel Fox, James Hersey, Samuel Parker, William 
Pickering, Asa Piper, Samuel Peabody, Henry R. Parker, Jona- 
than Blake, and Nathaniel Shannon. Henry H. Orne subsequent- 
ly declined serving, and Joseph Farrar was chosen in his stead. 

It is probable that the academy building was raised and partly 
finished in 1820. At a meeting of the proprietors, July, 1821, 
money was raised to complete the building, and the school went 
into operation the following September under the direction of 
John P. Cleveland. The land and building cost about two thou- 
sand dollars, and in addition there was a fund of two thousand 
dollars, a considerable portion of which was donated by William 
Guppy. 

In 1823 the board of officers of the Academy consisted of Rev. 
Asa Piper, of Wakefield, president ; Daniel Pickering, Esq., of 
Wolfeborough, secretary and treasurer; Dr. Nathaniel Shannon, 
of Moultonborough, Jonathan Blake, Esq., of Wolfeborough, 
Jeremiah Woodman, Esq., of Rochester, Samuel Fox, Esq., of 
Wolfeborough, Samuel Peabody, Esq., of Epsom, Henry R. 
Parker, Esq., of Wolfeborough, James Hersey, Esq., of Tufton- 
borough, Samuel Avery, Esq., of Wolfeborough, Samuel Larkin, 
Esq., of Portsmouth, Joseph Farrar, Esq., of Wolfeborough, 
trustees. At the fall term of the Academy there were forty-four 
students, thirty-eight males and six females. Here is a list of 
them, their names following their residences : — 



^04 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Males — Wolfeborough, Ebenezer Allen, Augustine D. Avery, 
Enoch Banfield, George B. Farrar, Albert W. Home, Charles 
Nowell, Samuel J. Stevenson, Nathaniel Towle, George Yeaton ; 
Meredith, Charles Bean; Parsonsfield, Me., Ebenezer Blazo, 
Robert Blazo, Mark Chapman; Somersworth, Oliver P. Carr; 
Shapleigh, Me., Arthur Bragdon ; New Durham, Benjamin F. 
Chesley, Thomas Davis, Reuben Hayes; Wakefield, Nathaniel 
Cook, George W. Dow, Elijah Drew, Henry A. P. B. Hyde, Wil- 
liam Sawyer; Ossipee, James Fogg; Sandwich, Otis French, Al- 
bert G. Hoitt, William H. H. Hoitt, Caleb Marston, Jacob J. 
Severance ; Alton, Woodbridge Osborne ; Epsom, Charles A. 
Peabody ; Milton, James Plummer ; Bartlett, Nathaniel Seavey ; 
Portsmouth, Henry Waldron, Augustus Shapleigh; Barnstead, 
Mark Walker, Isaac Garland ; Tamworth, Noah Gilman. Females 
— Wolfeborough, Maria Guppy, Mar>' C. Mclntire; Wakefield, 
Mary Davis ; Sandwich, Mary Hanson ; Madbury, Mary A. Joy ; 
Gilmanton, Mary S. Weeks. 

In 1824 Messrs. Shannon, Peabody, Larkin, Blake, Fox, and 
Parker retired from the board of trustees, and their places were 
filled by Daniel Hoitt, of Sandwich, Samuel Quarles, of Ossipee, 
and Samuel Cate, Daniel Pickering, Paul H. Varney, and Thomas 
Rust, of Wolfeborough. In the summer of 1827 the upper story 
of the Academy building was finished for a chapel. In 183 1 
Daniel Pickering, Samuel Avery, Joseph Farrar, Thomas Rust, 
Paul H. Vamey, Henry B. Rust, David T. Livy, and Enos Mer- 
rill, of Wolfeborough, James Hersey, of Tuftonborough, John 
Wingate of Wakefield, and Andrew Pierce, of Dover, were elected 
trustees. This board continued in office by the filling of vacancies 
that occurred from time to time until 1857. 

Mr. Cleveland, the first preceptor of the Academy was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. James Towner, Mr. Bailey, W. H. H. Hoitt, Rev. 
Enos Merrill, Erastus Perry, Rev. Thomas P. Beach, Charles 
Duren, Rev. Nehemiah C. Coffin, Mr. Fowler, Rev. Jeffries Hall. 
William H. Farrar, Benjamin Stanton, Joseph G. Bartlett, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 405 

Goodale Vittum, Joseph B. Clark, B. L. Pease, Ambrose Smith, 
Cliarles H. Hersey, and John Wingate. 

The period of the greatest prosperity of the Academy under 
the original charter was probably in 1836, when under the man- 
agement of Rev. Thomas Parnell Beach. The trustees were Rev. 
Joshua Dodge, of Moultonborough, Thomas Rust, Daniel Pick 
ering, Samuel Avery, Joseph Farrar, Paul H. Varney, Hon. 
Henry B. Rust, Nathaniel Rogers, of Wolfeborough, William H. 
Copp, of Tuftonborough, Dr. Thomas J. Tebbetts, of Wolfe- 
borough, Hon. Benning Bean, of Moultonborough. The instruc- 
tors were : "Rev. T. Parnell Beach, Principal ; Z. Bachelder, Esq., 
Prof. Ancient Languages ; Charles G. Weeks, Teacher in Mathe- 
matics ; Miss M. A. Eastman, Teacher in Languages; Miss M. 
Barker, Teacher in Ornamental Branches ; Miss N. Varney, Miss 
Caroline Orne, and Miss C. B. Coffin, Assistant Teachers." The 
students at the fall term numbered ninety-five, forty-nine males 
and forty-six females. Their names follow : — 

Males — Wolfeborough, J. Banfield, D. Bassett, L. S. Coffin, C. 
Coleman, J. Colby, E. Doe, C. H. Parker, B. F. Parker, W. A. 
Piper, J. Rust, H. L. Rust, D. N. Stoddard, Wm. Whidden, D. 
Whitten ; Sandwich, J. R. Bradbury ; Middleton, A. J. Chadwick ; 
Wakefield, A. Copp, G. W. Copp, W. Cotton, W. A. Maleham ; 
Tuftonborough, J. W. Dame, E. Piper, J. Piper, C. Smith ; Alton, 
G. W. Evans, O. Gilman, A. Gilman, J. E. Hays, D. Hays, J. 
Home, C. C. Mooney, H. Mooney, J. B. Mooney, J. L. Place, 
C. G. Willey ; Brownfield, Me., M. S. Hadley, S. B. Hadley ; New 
Durham, E. Hays, J. H. Hays ; Tamworth, N. Hubbard, J. Wat- 
son. G. H. Woodman, N. H. Woodman ; Farmington, J. C. 
Roberts, G. P. Waldron, H. Wilson ; Moultonborough, N. 
Shannon ; Meredith, C. P. Towle ; Madbury, B. H. Twombly. 

Females — Wolfeborough, E. Atkinson, H. Bassett, R. Bassett, 
G. Bassett, C. P. Coffin, C. B. Coffin, S. Coffin, O. Doe, E. 
Fernald, J. Fox, M. Furbur, P. Furbur, S. Libbey, H. Livy, C. 
Livy, M. A. Mason, C. Orne, J. C. Paine, C. D. Pickering, Mary 



4o6 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



Rogers, Martha Rogers, S. Rtist, H. Rust, M. J, Shaw, S. Shaw, 
M. J. Tebbetts, C. Tebbetts, N. White ; Meredith, M. S. Bean, H. 
A. Neal ; Alton, E. Chamberlain, A. Stevens ; Wakefield, L. Copp ; 
Tuftonborough, M. A. Copp, A. Davis; Tamworth, E. A. Dow, 
S, Hubbard, S. Remick ; Moultonborough, A. Shannon, E. Shan- 
non, F. Shannon, S. Shannon ; Sandwich, L. A. Weed, S. A. 
Weed ; Parsonsfield, Me., M. Marston, E. Meader. These names 
were enrolled in the "Catalogue of the Officers and Students of 
the Academy & Female Seminary at Wolfeborough Bridge, N. 
H." Forty by-laws were adopted relating to the qualifications of 
teachers and students, and the conduct of the latter. These only 
are noticed : — 

Students were not allowed to walk in the fields or streets on the 
Sabbath except for the purpose of attending public worship ; were 
forbidden to utter indecent or profane language or drink intoxi- 
cants ; were required to furnish brushes and brooms, and if re- 
quested by the teacher, to sweep the school-rooms. Tuition was 
to be paid in advance, and was remitted in case of sickness or 
necessary absence. Two commodious boarding-houses were pro- 
vided where students could board with teachers at one and a 
quarter dollars per week, an advance in price to be made when 
provisions were high, and a deduction allowed to those who fur- 
nished their wood, lights, or washing. The tuition per term was 
from two to seven dollars. 

A lyceum was connected with the institution, which was free 
to students and citizens alike. This flourished for years, and 
proved a great public benefit. For the third of a century that fol- 
lowed a larger proportion of the people of Wolfeborough could 
address an audience forcibly and interestingly than during any 
period of its antecedent or subsequent history. 

Among the students attending the Academy in 1820, was 
Henry Wilson, of Farmington, who afterwards became Vice- 
President of the United States. The arrival of Wilson gave a fresh 
impetus to the lyceum.. He was an attractive speaker, and very 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 407 

fond of debating. Others were stimulated by his example, and 
the principal school-room was crowded weekly by interested 
audiences. Further notice of Mr. Wilson will be found in the 
sketch of Samuel Avery. The Honorable "Long John" Went- 
worth, of Chicago, was another student. 

At a meeting of the proprietors of the Academy in 1857, at 
which John Fox presided and John M. Brackett acted as secre- 
tary, Zacliariah Bachelder, Abel Haley, John M. Brackett, 
Jeremiah F. Hall, Joseph L. Avery, Moses Thompson, Moses T. 
Gate, Charles H. Parker, Thomas L. Whitton, George W. Hersey, 
and John L. Meder were elected trustees. At an adjourned meet- 
ing it was voted to raise two thousand dollars for the purpose of 
repairing the Academy, and John M. Brackett, Abel Haley, 
Joseph L. Avery, Charles H. Parker, and Charles Remick were 
appointed a committee to superintend the work. 

The Academy was continued with varied success until 1866, 
when the property was leased by the Qiristian Society on con- 
ditions. E. T. Moulton was placed at the head of the school, 
which was called the "Christian Institute." He was followed by 
Jolin W. Lary and George F. Chase. In 1870 John W. Symonds 
succeeded Mr. Chase, and remained two years, when the "In- 
stitute" was removed from Wolfeborough. 

In 1874 the old trustees voted to re-open the school. In 1876 
DeWitt Durgin was in charge. In 1878 the use of the school 
building was granted to school district number seventeen, on con- 
dition that a high school should be kept in it. In 1887 the old 
charter was amended, and the name changed to "Brewster Free 
Academy." 

The will of John Brewster, dated January 17, 1883, and proved 
February 23, 1886, shows the occasion of amending the charter 
of the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy and the estab- 
lishing of the Brewster Free Academy. This will may be found 
in another chapter. 

Here follows the charter of the Brewster Free Academv : — 



4o8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



"state of new HAMPSHIRE. 



In the Year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and 

Eighty-Seven, 

An act to Amend the Charter of the Wolfborough and Tufton- 
borough Academy. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives :n 
General Court convened : 

Section 1. The name of the Wolfborough and Tuftonborough 
Academy is hereby changed to the Brewster Free Academy. 

Section 2. The entire affairs of the corporation shall be under 
the general management of a board of trustees, constituted in 
the manner described in the next section of this act. Said board 
may fully exercise all corporate powers and transact all corporate 
business. A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum 
for the transaction of business. The trustees may from time to 
time, make such regulations and by-laws, not repugnant to the 
constitution and laws of this State, for the management of the 
interests and concerns of said Corporation, as they may think 
proper; and also appoint such and so many officers and agents 
as they may think proper and prescribe their powers and duties. 

Section 3. The board of trustees shall hereafter be composed of 
eleven members, four of whom shall be members ex-officio, and 
seven of whom shall be selected as hereinafter provided. The 
four ex-officio members shall be the principal of the Academy, to 
be elected by the board, and the three trustees under the seventh 
or residuary clause in the will of John Brewster ; the three present 
trustees being William Brewster, John L. Brewster and Arthur 
Estabrook. The trustees under said will and their several suc- 
cessors in said trust under said will, shall each be trustees of the 
Academy so long as they severally remain trustees under said 
will. The seven following persons shall constitute the remain- 
ing members of the board, viz. : Jeremiah Smith, of Dover, John 




EDWIN H. LORD, A M. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



409 



K. Lord, of Hanover, Charles U. Bell, of Lawrence, and Joseph 
L. Avery, Benjamin F. Parker, Albert W. Wiggin, and Charles 
H. Parker, of Wolfborough, the seven trustees last named shall 
at the first meeting draw lots for terms of one, two, three, four, 
five, six and seven years, respectively. Thereafter the term of one 
member shall expire each year according to said drawing, and at 
the annual meeting of each year a trustee to serve for seven years 
shall be elected by the board to take the place of the retiring 
member. The retiring member shall be eHgible for re-election, 
but shall have no vote in such election. If a vacancy shall occur 
among the aforesaid seven trustees or their successors at any 
other time than the expiration of a term, the board shall elect a 
trustee to serve for the unexpired balance of the term. A majority 
of the board of eleven trustees shall consist of persons who are 
not inhabitants of Wolfborough or of towns adjacent thereto. 

Section 4. The Corporation may purchase, lease, erect and 
maintain suitable buildings ; may receive and expend the income 
bequeathed by John Brewster for the support of an Academy ; 
and may receive by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, and hold, 
manage and dispose of for the purpose of the Academy, real and 
person estate to the amount of five hundred thousand dollars in 
value. Said property and income, so long as it continues to be- 
long to said Academy shall be exempt from taxation. 

Section 5. The principles and precepts of the Christian religion 
siiall be inculcated, but the Academy shall not be a denomina- 
tional or sectarian school. 

Section 6. The first meeting of the board of trustees may be 
railed by anyone of said trustees by a notice in writing, stating 
the time and place of meeting, sent by mail to each of the other 
corporators at least one week prior thereto. 

Section 7. If any persons claiming to be stockholders or cor- 
porators in the Wolfborough and Tuftonborough Academv shall 
within two months after the passage of this act give notice to the 



^lO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

trustees of the Brewster Free Academy, that they object to the 
amendments herein made, said trustes shall, within one month 
thereafter, apply by petition to the County Commissioners for the 
County of Carroll to ascertain the respective interests of the per- 
sons so giving notice and to assess the pecuniary value thereof. 
The proceedings before the Commissioners upon such petition 
shall be similar in substance to those prescribed when petitions 
for the laying out of highways are referred to the Commissioners 
and the report shall be returned to the Supreme Court. Such re- 
port shall be final unless one or more of said stockholders or cor- 
porators shall appeal from the asssessment of value ; in which 
case the same proceedings shall be had as on appeal from an 
award of damages by the Commissioners in laying out a high- 
way. Upon the payment or tender of the sum or sums so as- 
sessed by the Commissioners or (in case of appeal) upon the 
deposit with the County Treasurer of said sums and also filing 
with the Treasurer reasonable security to the satisfaction of the 
Commissioners for the payment of any further damage and costs, 
which may be awarded upon said appeal, the respective interests 
of the aforesaid stockholders or corporators shall be completely 
divested. Any stockholders or corporators who do not give 
notice as aforesaid within two months shall be deemed to have 
assented to the amendments herein made. 

Section 8. This act shall take efifect upon its passage. 

Approved June 23, 1887." 

The following extracts taken from the latest catalogue of the 
Brewster Free Academy will give an idea as to the character of 
the school and its requirements : — 

"Applicants for admission are required to furnish testimonials 
that they sustain a good moral character, and a certificate from 
their last school is desirable. They must also pass a satisfactory 
examination in the elements of Arithmetic and of English Gram- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 411 

mar, in modern Geography, and in the History of the United 
States. Only those who are able and willing to work hard should 
apply for admission." 

"The formation of character is a leading aim of the school, and 
no one whose influence is opposed to this purpose will be allowed 
to remain. Pupils are expected to be ladies and gentlemen, and 
in this simple statement is included the substance of our require- 
ments. Idlers will be promptly excluded." 

"The school day begins with devotional exercises, and the 
students are required to attend divine worship at one of the 
churches in town on Sunday morning." 

"Two courses of study are provided one furnishing ample prep- 
aration for college, the other equal to the first in disciplinary 
value, but so framed as to allow some latitude for choice on the 
part of the student, according to his needs and purposes. It is 
intended to establish a course of Manual Training as soon as 
practicable." 

"The spirit and method of instruction are modern in all sub- 
jects. Ample laboratory facilities are supplied for the students in 
science." 

At the opening of the Academy in 1887, the students num- 
bered forty-seven. The teachers were Edwin H Lord, A. M., 
principal ; Lydia F. Remick and Edwin H. Ross, assistants. 
Here follows a list of teachers since 1887: Alice S. Rollins (Mrs. 
Edwin F. Brewster), Helen M. Cobb (Mrs. Calvin M. Clark), 
Frederick H. SafTord, George C. Kimball, Isaac E. Pearl, John 
C. Sanborn, Jr., Fannie A. Ober (Mrs. Frank A. CooHdge), 
Edwin T. Brewster, Lottie A. Jones, Lillye T. Lewis (Mrs. S. 
Percy R. Chadwick), Florence Adams, Hershel Wilder Lewis, 
Mary L. Graffam, Louis J. West, Cornelia Park. Messrs. Pearl, 
Sanborn and Lewis and Misses Ober and Adams acted as sub- 
stitutes. The present teachers are : Edwin H. Lord, A. M., prin- 
cipal ; S. Percy R. Chadwick, A. M., Herbert E. Sargent, B. S., 
W. Herbert Terrill, A. M., Mary Ella Carter, B. L., S. Marian 



412 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUaH. 



Chadbourne, A. B., Mabel L. Hersom, B. L. In 1900 there were 
one hundred and thirty-five students. The first class was grad- 
uated in 1890 and consisted of seven members. The alumni now 
number one hundred and forty-three. 

The present board of trustees consists of William Brewster, 
Cambridge, Mass. ; John L. Brewster, president, Andover, Mass. ; 
Arthur F. Estabrook, treasurer, Boston, Mass. ; Edwin H. Lord, 
James C. Melvin, Boston, Mass. ; *Benjamin F. Parker, 
Nathaniel H. Scott, John K. Lord, Hanover, N. H. ; Charles U. 
Bell, secretary, Andover, Mass. ; Charles S. Murkland, Durham, 
N. H. ; Sewall W. Abbott. 

The Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy building, by 
a vote of its proprietors, was transferred to the trustees of the 
Brewster Free Academy. It was used by the Academy until the 
completion of the south wing of the new building in 1890. It 
was then donated to the town of Wolfeborough for a school- 
house, on condition that it should be removed, the ground 
leveled, and a street made on its northern side. These conditions 
were complied with, and the building is now known as the 
"Pickering School-house," and accommodates four schools, one 
of which is the town grammar. The Academy grounds consist 
of forty acres of land sloping from the main street of the village 
to the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, on which they border for 
the distance of half a mile. The views from the grounds to the 
lake and from the lake to the grounds are alike beautiful. On 
the grounds are the "Estabrook" and "Annex" buildings pro- 
vided by the liberality of one of the trustees for the accommoda- 
tion of teachers and a limited number of students. Here also are 
the residences of Principal Lord and Mr. Chadwick. The com- 
pleted wing of the Academy building is of pressed brick, and cost 
$35,000. The cost of the whole building, when completed as de- 
signed, will be $150,000. 

* Deceased. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



413 



Few towns in New Hampshire have so good, and none better 
educational advantages than does Wolfeborough. Its schools, 
which are in session two-thirds of the year, are made convenient 
for every pupil, as in the more remote or sparsely populated 
neighborhoods they are conveyed from their homes to the school- 
house free of expense. Having reached a proper degree of ad- 
vancement, they are admitted to the Brewster Free Academy, 
and without any expense for tuition or books are fitted for col- 
lege or the busy alifairs of life. 

In 1804 a social library was established in Wolfeborough, the 
leader of the movement being Isaiah Home, who was the most 
scholarly person in the town at that time. The history of the 
library follows : 

At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of Wolfeborough 
and parts adjacent, to take into consideration the propriety of 
establishing a library, held at the schoolhouse above Smith's 
Bridge, January 10, Isaiah Home was chosen moderator, Samuel 
Nowell, clerk ; John L. Piper, treasurer and librarian. Piper, 
Home, Nowell, Daniel Brewster, and William Guppy were ap- 
pointed a committee to draft a constitution, and Samuel Meder, 
Henry Wiggin, James Wiggin, Samuel Fox, Jonathan Blake, 
George Brewster, William C. Warren, James Hersey, Benjamin 
Home, and Samuel Mason, with the above-named committee 
were appointed a committee to determine the books that should 
constitute the library. It was also voted that the price of a share 
in the library should be two dollars. 

At an adjourned meeting held on the twenty-first day of the 
same month, a constitution consisting of thirteen articles was 
adopted. By this it was determined that the officers of the society 
should consist of a president, a secretary, a treasurer, a librarian, 
and three inspectors, the duty of the last named officers being to 
make a semi-annual examination of the books in the library. 
Members of the association were required to pay an annual tax 
of thirty-four cents, and were allowed to take one book from the 



.J. HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

library, which they were to return within two months or subject 
themselves to a fine. 

The library was to be kept on the main road in the southwest 
part of the town, between the dwellings of William Guppy and 
Samuel Meder. Subsequently the price of a share in the library 
was raised to three dollars, although two dollars was the more 
common price. The annual tax varied from thirty-four to twelve 
and a half cents, and was finally fixed at twenty cents. The per- 
sons who signed the constitution and became members of the 
society were Daniel Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Home, Samuel Nowell, 
Jonathan Blake, Henry Horn, William Chamberlain, Andrew 
Lucas, William Mallard, Samuel Mason, Andrew Wiggin, James 
Wiggin, Benjamin Young, William C. Warren, Jacob Folsom, 
Widow Annah Fullerton, Elijah Estes, George Brewster, John 
L. Piper, John Piper, James Hersey, Levi Tibbetts, David Copp, 
Benjamin Home, Neal Gate, James Fullerton, Andrew Wiggin, 
Jr., Henry Wiggin, Ebenezer Meder, Jr., Samuel G. Piper, Wil- 
liam Guppy, David Piper, William Fullerton, Samuel Meder, 
Benjamin Blake, Samuel Fox, William Copp, Samuel Johnson, 
Stephen W. Home, William Rogers, Oliver Smith, Samuel Con- 
nor, James Connor, Jr., John Edmonds, Benning Brackett, 
Ichabod Libbey, Jonathan Hersey, Thomas W. Chase, William 
Kent, Joshua Avery, Jesse Whitten, and Daniel Bassett. Several 
volumes were contributed by individuals, and about ninety, most- 
ly historical works, purchased. These, in accordance with the 
constitution, were covered with leather. 

In June of the same year the society was incorporated by the 
"name of the proprietors of the Republican Social Library in 
Wolfborough," and Samuel Nowell and Jonathan Blake were 
authorized to call the first meeting of the proprietors. A meet- 
ing was accordingly called on the third day of the following Sep- 
tember, and Isaiah Home was chosen president ; Samuel Meder, 
clerk ; John L. Piper, librarian and treasurer ; and Samuel Nowell, 
William Rogers, and George Brewster, a committee of inspec- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 415 

tion. Mr. Piper held the office of Ubrarian until 18 17. He was 
then succeeded by Samuel Meder, who retained the office one 
year, and was in turn succeeded by George Nowell. The year 
following Richard Rust was chosen librarian. Mr. Rust was 
elected three successive years, and was succeeded by his son, 
Thomas Rust, who held the office for twenty years, or until 1843, 
when George B. Farrar took his place. In 1845 Zachariah 
Bachelder became librarian, and in 1846 Joseph Avery was ap- 
pointed to the office. About fifty persons became members of 
the association, exclusive of those who united with it at the time 
of its organization. It was justly regarded as a valuable institu- 
tion at the beginning of the present century, and from it many 
of the citizens of the town acquired a stock of knowledge that 
could not otherwise have been obtained. William Fox, Esq., was 
librarian for several of the last years of the existence of the 
library ; but as it received but few additions, it was little used, and 
in 1888 was sold at auction. 

There was for a long time a circulating library owned by the 
inhabitants of North Wolfeborough and the adjacent part of 
Ossipee. 

The Brewster Library, established under the provisions of John 
Brewster's will, was first thrown open to the pubHc in March, 
1890. In March, 1900, the town voted to establish a library com- 
mission and this body has co-operated with the trustees since 
that date. Both libraries are in the same building and in charge 
of the same librarian. The stacks now contain seventeen hundred 
and fifty well-selected volumes, exclusive of pamphlets and the 
periodicals and newspapers of the reading room. Of these four- 
teen hundred and twenty-six have been purchased by the Brewster 
estate and three hundred and twenty-four from the town fund. 
The present library commissioners are Rev. Andrew Hahn, Ed- 
ward F. Gate, and Pierce A. Home. 

There have been two librarians, George E. Sleeper and the 
present incumbent, Miss Inez Brewster. There have also been 



4i6 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



several substitutes from time to time. Thus, with the exception 
of a very brief interim, Wolfeborough has had some sort of a 
pubHc Ubrary for nearly a century. 



CHAPTER XXYI. 

Soldiers of 1812 — Civil War — Provision for Soldiers and 
THEIR Families — Enlisted Soldiers — Resident Surviv- 
ors — Major James R. Newell — Major William 
H. Trickey — Captain Alvah S. Libbey — Officers who 
BECAME Prominent — Civil List of the Town. 

F'EW, if any, soldiers from Wolfeborough enlisted in the War of 
1812. During its progress an English fleet appeared ofif the 
harbor of Portsmouth, and a draft was made on the New Hamp- 
shire militia. The enrolled soldiers of Wolfeborough were about 
this time divided into two companies, the first and the sixth. 
They were both attached to the twenty-seventh regiment. The 
following persons were drafted from the first company : Isaac 
Edmonds, Jonathan Gale, Joseph Edmonds, Nathaniel G. Home, 
James Rogers, Benjamin Tibbetts, Alpheus Swett, John Fuller- 
ton, Jacob Hersey, John Shepherd, John Wiggin, John W. 
Home, Andrew Lucas. From the sixth company were drafted 
these : Thomas Stevenson, John Willey, Isaac Martin, George 
W. Cotton, John Drew, Jr., John Jenness, Isaac Poor, Jonathan 
Cook, Samuel Fernald, Joseph Hoitt, Samuel Nudd. They re- 
ceived from the town wages at the rate of ten dollars a month. 
In advanced life the survivors became pensioners of the govern- 
ment. 

During the Civil War the town made ample provision for its 
citizen soldiers and their families, as is shown by the following 
record of its action : — 

October 14, 1861, voted to raise five hundred dollars to aid 
the families of soldiers. John Wingate, Jr., Alphonzo H. Rust, 
and Joseph Bickford were appointed a disbursing committee. 
1862, February 22, five hundred dollars were raised for the same 

417 



4i8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



purpose, and the selectmen were authorized to add fifty per cent 
to that sum if needed. August 9, voted to place a sum not ex- 
ceeding three thousand dollars in the hands of the disbursing 
committee, and to pay each volunteer under the call for volunteers 
a bounty of two hundred dollars, and a bounty of one hundred 
and fifty dollars to each person who should volunteer to fill the 
draft ; September 18, voted to pay each person who should enlist 
in the army for nine months three hundred dollars. 1863, March, 
voted five thousand dollars for the benefit of soldiers' families ; 
September 9, voted to pay each drafted man or his substitute 
three hundred dollars ; December 3, this sum was increased fifty 
dollars. 1864, May 12, voted to pay three hundred dollars to 
each person who should enlist in the army, June 4, voted to pay 
three hundred dollars to each drafted man who should go into 
the army, or who should provide a substitute ; re-enlisted soldiers 
were to receive a like bounty ; July 7, voted to pay each drafted 
man three hundred dollars, or provide him with a substitute, on 
condition that he should pay one hundred dollars to the town ; 
Charles F. Hill and George W. Furber were appointed recruit- 
ing agents ; August 23, voted to pay each resident who should 
enlist for one year three hundred dollars, for two years four 
hundred dollars, for three years five hundred dollars ; September 
I, Woodbury P. Home, Moses Thompson, and John L. Haines 
were made recruiting agents, and a bounty of seven hundred dol- 
lars ofifered to each person who should enlist for one year ; Dec. 
I, voted to pay to any citizen enrolled in the militia one hundred 
dollars, if he should procure a substitute for one year, two 
hundred dollars for one for two years, and three hundred dollars 
for one for three years. In 1867, voted to pay one hundred dol- 
lars to each person who had paid commutation money, furnished 
a substitute, or volunteered to serve in the army. March 10, 
1868, voted to pay one hundred dollars to each soldier a citizen 
of the town when he enlisted, and who had never received any 
town bounty from this or any other town, and who had an honor- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



419 



able discharge from the service. Most of the money used during 
the war was obtained by loan, although considerable sums were 
raised by taxation. 



SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR WHO ENLISTED FROM 
WOLFEBOROUGH. 



First Infantry. 
John W. Fogg. 

Second Infantry. 

Tames Bresnehan. 
*John S. Varney, wounded. 
Four recruits, or substitutes. 

Third Infantry. 

William H. Trickey. wound- 
ed, promoted Major, now a 
clergyman. 
Andrew J. Wadlea, wounded, 
afterwards promoted Cap- 
tain. 
*Hanna A. Chesley. 
Lowell Glidden. 
♦Albert Paris. 

Fourth Infantry. 
One Recruit. 

Fifth Infantry. 

*Richard R. Davis, Captain. 

*Henry B. Rendall, 2d Lieut., 
returned home diseased, 
and died Oct., 1862. 
John W. Fogg, second enlist- 
ment. 



Lewis A. Chesley. 

Edgar Avery, wounded. 
*John F. Corson, killed June 

30, 1862. 
* William Huzzey, died in army. 
*William H. Hayes. 
*Caleb T. Keniston. 

Charles E. Tebbetts. 

Charles A. Libbey. 

John Doyle. 

Ezra Nutt. 
*William B. Nason. 
*John Sargent, died in army 

Dec. 22, 1861. 
*Ezra Tibbetts. 

James W. Hooper, 
*Samuel Thomas. 

William C. Maleham. 
*John C. Wallace, killed Dec. 

13, 1862. 
*Ira Whittle. 

*Charles A. Warren, died of 
wounds, June 2, 1862. 

Charles E. Sargent. 

Peter Protier. 
*Jeremiah Young, wounded. 

Charles O. Doe. 



420 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



*Simeon B. Kenney. 

Benjamin F. Blaisdell. 

Thomas E. Mitchel. 
*Daniel Kimball, died of 
wounds. 

One recruit. 

Sixth Infantry. 

*Charles H. Kimball. 
*Thomas J. Nute. 

Isaac B. Sawyer. 

Ten recruits, one, James C. 
Clement, died of wounds. 

Seventh Infantry. 
Three recruits. 

Eighth Infantry. 

*Alphonzo G. Colby, Captain. 
*James R. Newell, wounded 
and prisoner, promoted 
Major. 
*George H. Hurd, died Oct. i, 
1862. 
James W. Johnson. 
Tobias M. Elliott. 
Henry Marchington. 
*William M. Elliott. 
*Jeremiah D. Tebbetts. 
*Herbert B. Tebbetts, died in 
army Jan. 9, 1863. 
Three recruits. 

Ninth Infantry. 
Two recruits. 



Twelfth Infantry. 

*Silas May, Captain, promoted 
Captain in regular army, 
wounded. 
*David P. Haines. 
*Joseph Morgan, Jr. 
Jacob B. Tuttle, promoted 

Lieutenant. 
*Charles A. Warren, 
William B. Rendall. 
*Jacob Hanson. 

Wilbur W. Swett. 
*Charles H. Bickford. 

* Nathaniel W. Bradley. 
*Amos E. Bradley, wounded 

June 3, 1862. 
*George H. Blake. 
*Greenlief D. Davis. 

Samuel S. Eaton. 
*Abial C. Eaton, wounded 

June, 1864. 
*Japhet Emery, died Jan. 27, 
1864. 
William B. Fullerton. 
George B. Frost, wounded 

May 3, 1863. 
George W. Home. 
*Monroe Hartshorn. 

* Thomas R. Home. 

* Oscar F. Home. 

John M. Kimball, wounded. 

* James W. Libbey, died Aug. 

27, 1863. 
William B. Pierce. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



421 



William Peavey. 
♦John W. Stevens. 
*John F. Smith, killed July 2, 

1863. 
Isaac Stevens, wounded July 

9, 1864. 
*Loring Stoddard, wounded 

May 3, 1863. 
♦James E. Tebbetts, died Jan. 

16, 1863. 
Moses Thompson. 
*Moses F. Thompson. 
*John M. Thompson, died of 

wounds June 16, 1864. 
♦Benjamin Kimball. 
♦Samuel J. Nutt. 
♦Daniel W. Homer, promoted 

Second Lieutenant. 

Thirteenth Infantry. 
John H. Beacham. 
♦James F. Geralds, died in 
army. 

Fourteenth Infantry. 

Albert J. Huzzey, Quarter- 
master-Sargeant, promoted 
2d Lieut. 

Three recruits. 

Fifteenth Infantry. 
Jeremiah F. Hall, Surgeon, 

Sixteenth Infantry. 
Albert J. Hersey, Captain. 



Albert W. Wiggin, ist Lieut. 
♦Alvah S. Libbey, 2nd Lieut. 
♦George P. Cotton. 

Lewis F. Davis. 

Harlan P. Grain. 
♦Charles O. Rendall, died July 

31, 1863. 
♦Peter C. Seavey. 

Hollis P. Chapman. 
♦Leonidas J. Avery, died July 

26, 1863. 
♦Charles H. Bickford. 
♦John C. Caryle. 
♦Thomas Chase. 

William Corson. 

Joel E. Cook. 
♦James W. Cross. 
♦James C. Dwight. 
♦Moses Emery. 
♦Nathaniel D. Farnsworth. 

George B. Fogg. 
♦George W. Frost, died Apr. 
28, 1863. 

Joseph P. Heath. 
♦Charles E. Johnson. 
♦Ezra F. Johnson. 

Ezra H. Keniston. 
♦David G. Kimball. 
♦John W. Lee. 
♦Woodbury L. Leavitt. 

John H. Loud, 
♦Joseph H. Ricker, died July 

24, 1863. 
♦Daniel Rollins. 



422 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



♦Charles G. Sherwood, died 

June 14, 1863. 
♦Edward Turner. 

Benjamin Trickey. 
♦Joseph J. Whitten. 

Joseph H. ChamberHn. 

Eighteen Infantry. 
♦Moses T. Gate, Quartermas- 
ter. 
♦Harris W. Morgan. 
Benjamin B. Thompson, pro- 
moted Gaptain. 
Heavy Artillery. 
♦Alvah S. Libbey, Captain, sec- 
ond enlistment. 
George W. Home, 2d Lieut., 

second enlistment. 
John W. Fogg, third enlist- 
ment. 
Joseph P. Heath, second en- 
listment. 
Charles S. Paris. 
George S. Parker. 
James Stevenson. 
John M. Avery. 
George F. Gate. 
♦James E. Dore. 
Isaiah K. Drew. 
♦Charles J. Edgerly. 
♦Elbridge Gerry. 



Frank B. Home. 

George J. Jordan. 

Ezra H. Keniston, second en- 
listment. 
♦Caleb T. Keniston, second en- 
listment. 
♦John Kane, died Fort Sumner. 

George E. Kimball. 

George F. Kimball. 

Jones Marden. 
♦Alexander T. Raitt. 

George W. Warren. 
♦Joseph J. Whitten, second en- 
listment. 
♦William T. Dore. 

Number of enlistments, 146. 

Number of recruits, 27. 

Number of commissioned oflfi- 
cers,i5, including 2 Majors, 
7 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, 
I Quartermaster, and i Sur- 
geon. 

Number of soldiers killed in 
battle, 4. 

Number of soldiers who died 
of wounds, 4. 

Number of soldiers who died 
of disease in army, 12. 

Number of soldiers deceased, 

83. 



♦Deceased. 

The following persons who enlisted in the Civil War from 
Wolfeborough are still residents of the town : John H. Beacham, 




MAJOR JAVIES R. NEWELL 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 423 

James Bresnehan, Charles O. Doe, Isaiah K. Drew, Tobias M. 
Elliott, William B. FuUerton, Joseph P. Heath, James W. 
Hooper, George W. Home, Frank B. Home, John M. Kimball, 
George E. Kimball, George F. Kimball, John H. Loud, Jones 
Marden, Ezra Nutt, Charles S. Paris, William B. Kendall, Charles 
E. Sargent, James Stevenson, George W. Warren, Albert W. 
Wiggin, George F. Gate. 

Major James Robert Newell was born in Brookfield, Decem- 
ber 5, 1839. While yet a youth Mr. Newell came to Wolfe- 
borough, and established the Granite State News before he 
reached his majority. He enlisted in Captain Colby's Co. I., 8th 
N. H. Vols. October 17, 186 1, and was mustered into the United 
States service the following December. In December, 1863, the 
8th N. H, Vols, was mounted and transferred to the cavalry arm 
of the service as the Second N. H. Cavalry. 

Save for a few weeks in the winter of 1862, while he was North 
on recruiting service, Mr. Newell remained with the "fighting 
eighth" regiment throughout the war. An extract from the regi- 
mental history says: "Mr. Newell served faithfully throughout 
the war, participating in over forty actions. He was engaged in 
nearly every battle fought by his regiment in the Department of 
the Gulf and also did admirable service as scout, amid great diffi- 
culties. For personal gallantry he was promoted to all offices 
from sergeant to major." 

In June, 1863, Lieutenant Newell, then acting-captain, led his 
company in the disastrous charge upon Port Hudson. The battle 
began at 3 :30 Sunday morning, the heaviest firing continuing 
six and a half hours. The regiment's gallant charge called forth 
marked expressions of appreciation from headquarters. The loss 
of life was fearful. Of the two hundred and ninety-eight that 
entered the fight one hundred and twenty-four were killed or 
wounded, and at roll-call the regiment mustered only sixty men. 
At the capitulation of the works, July 9, the 8th Regiment was 
one of those detailed to receive the surrender. 



424 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Lieutenant Newell was wounded and taken prisoner in the first 
charge. At the end of three weeks, without medical attendance 
and on a diet of corn meal and molasses, his weight was reduced 
from one hundred and forty to ninety-six pounds, and he de- 
termined to escape if possible. After much difficulty he succeeded 
in bribing a negro to furnish him with a rope and a Confederate 
uniform. Through his knowledge of a printing press he suc- 
ceeded in procuring an iron bar from an old press in the building 
where he was confined, with which he removed the grating from a 
window. On the night of July 4th he climbed down on the rope, 
passed the sentinel and walked composedly through the village, 
meeting numerous soldiers, who, however, failed to challenge 
him. Reaching the river, he carefully avoided the parapets and 
waded up stream until he found the Union pickets. The reduc- 
tion of the works five days later was much simplified by the infor- 
mation which he was able to furnish. 

February 4, 1864, Captain Newell was sent in charge of an ex- 
pedition from Vidalia to disperse guerilla parties up Black River. 
The rebels were routed and their horses and equipments cap- 
tured. Three days later his command was overtalcen by a 
furious storm and was hemmed in by the overflow from the 
Mississippi on the high ridge of land where it had encamped. 
Captain Newell at once proceeded to find a way out of the 
dilemma and would have unquestionably lost his life but for his 
skill in swimming, the result of much practice in the waters of 
old Winnipesaukee. His horse gave out and, throwing ofif belt, 
sabre, boots and overcoat, he swam for hours through the gloomy 
bayous, until he finally reached high ground. The whole party 
were without shelter and suffered much. Their diet was horse 
and mule meat without salt, but after six days, they managed 
to reach Vidalia with their captured stock. 

We may say in passing that in December, 1864, its term of 
service having expired, the 8th Regiment was mustered out. The 
re-enlisted veterans and recruits were again mustered into service 




MAJOR WILLIAM H. TRICKEY 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 425 

at Natchez, Miss., as the Veteran BattalHon, 8th N. H. Vols. 
Major Newell served through all these changes in the regiment, 
infantry, cavalry and veteran battallion, and was finally dis- 
charged from the service at Vicksburg, Oct. 28, 1865. He re- 
mained in the South, however, aiding in the work of reconstruc- 
tion for a time. His record in this service is in marked contrast 
to that of the men whose dealings with their conquered foe gave 
them the unenviable sobriquet of "carpet-bagger." 

Major Newell always bore his honors modestly and was much 
attached to the members of his old command. After his return 
North in 1868 until 1874 he was engaged in journalistic work on 
the Boston Globe. After that ill health prevented his taking so 
active a part in the world's affairs as his merits and abilities 
would warrant, but he was honored none the less in the high 
place he held in the esteem of his fellowmen while he lived and 
the tender reverence all who knew him pay his memory. 

Major Nev/ell married, April 16, 1869, Miss Fannie M. 
Beacham, of Ossipee. His death occurred March i, 1880, after a 
protracted illness. Their only child died June 3, 1881. The local 
G. A. R. Post No. 61, is named in Major Newell's honor. 

Major William H. Trickey was born in Exeter, Maine, 
January 22, 1841. His parents moved from Brookfield, and when 
he was fifteen years old he came to Wolfeborough, where he 
made shoes and attended school until his enlistment July 29, 
i8CjI. His military history is told fully in the history of the 3rd 
N. H. Vols, and frequent complementary mention is made of his 
service in the Adjutant General's report. A brief sketch is all 
that can be attempted here. 

He enlisted July 29, 1861, as a private in Co. G., 3rd Regiment, 
being one of the first to volunteer from the town. He was made 
corporal at Hilton Head, sergeant at Edisto Island, and orderly 
at the regiment's first battle at Seccessionville, with honorable 
mention. In April. 1863, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant 



426 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 

and during the siege of Morris Island was in command of his 
company. He was promoted to first Heutenant in January, 1864, 
and in April joined Grant's forces in that memorable campaign. 
In July of the same year he was advanced to the rank of captain 
and granted leave of absence by General Butler. This was the 
only time he was relieved during his four years service. 

On September 3rd he was wounded in the trenches at Peters- 
burg and again on October 2y at Derby town Road. January i, 
1865, the regiment left its camp at Laurel Hill to join the ex- 
pedition against Fort Fisher with Captain Trickey in command. 
For the part he played in this assault he received the thanks of 
the Generals, Ames and Abbott. A few days later he was 
wounded again while in the skirmish line. 

February 11, he captured the enemy's rifle pits with a smaller 
number of men than the prisoners he secured. On the seven- 
teenth of the same month he received his commission as major. 
After the capture of Wilmington on Feb. 25, he, with a few men, 
rushed upon a burning bridge and put the enemy to rout, thus 
securing a safe passage for the main force. This was the last 
active service of the regiment, which was mustered out in July 
following. 

After leaving the service Major Trickey returned to Wolfe- 
borough, where in August, 1864, he had married Celestia C., the 
daughter of WilHam Deland, a respected citizen of the town. In 
1867 he removed to Dover, where he lived for twenty years. At 
first he was connected with the shoe business, then with the U. S. 
railway mail service. In 1870 and 1871 he was in the city 
council and the legislature. In 1887 he resigned from the gov- 
ernment service and entered upon a theological course at Tufts 
College. He settled over the Universalist Society in South New- 
market, N. H., in 1889, removed to Danvers in 1891, and to 
Claremont, N. H., in 1898, where he is at present located. 

The "Major," as his friends still call him, has kept in close touch 
with the "Boys in Blue." He was for several years commander 




CAPTAIN ALVAH S. LIBBEY 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 427 

of the G. A. R. Post in Dover and of the Department in 1872. 
He is also a member of the MiUtary Order of the Loyal Legion, 
an Odd Fellow and a Mason. 

Captain Alvah S. Libbey was bom in Parsonsfield, Me., Dec. 
15, 1830. He was educated in the town schools of Effingham, 
to which town his father moved. At the age of fourteen he went 
to Haverhill, Mass., to work on a farm and a year later secured 
employment as clerk on a lumber wharf in Boston, where he 
remained three years. From that time, except while in the army, 
he was engaged in the lumber business. 

Mr. Libbey enlisted as a private in the loth N. H. Vols, and 
was with Banks in the operations against Port Hudson. He was 
promoted to a lieutenancy after four months service and in 1864 
was commissioned captain of Co. G. ist N. H. Heavy Artillery, 
with one hundred and forty-seven men and four lieutenants. 
During this year he commanded at Forts Scott and Sumner and 
Battery Garreschee. In 1865 he was engaged in the defence of 
Washington. 

His business associations are touched upon in another chapter. 
He served his town with marked ability in many official capacities 
and was always the high-minded, public-spirited citizen. His 
death occurred December 6, 1895. 

Captain Albert J. Hersey now resides in Manchester, Iowa. 
He was in Texas when the war broke out and was forced to 
enlist in the Confederate army as corporal. About his first field 
duty was the command of an ambulance corps, which, through 
the fortunes of war, became separated from the regiment. Aided 
by a trusty negro servant who reconnoitred in advance, Captain 
Hersey at length found the Union lines and delivered up his men 
as prisoners. The commander was somewhat inclined to doubt 
Mr. Hersey's loyalty, but letters from New Hampshire soon put 
things in their proper light and the former "Reb" (against his 
will) became one of Uncle Sam's ablest defenders and left the 
army with a captain's commission. 



428 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

Captain Andrew J. Wadlea, "Fighting Jack," as he was called, 
has spent the greater part of his life, since the war, in the West. 
He was an active agent in the mounting of the "Swamp Angel" 
gun that played such a famous part in the South Carolina cam- 
paign. The necessary lumber he and his men secured from the 
"Rebs" right under the noses of their pickets. 

Captain Silas May was the best posted military man that went 
from the town, having had a thorough militia training in Massa- 
chusetts. He afterwards served as captain in the regular army. 

Captain Richard R. Davis was one of the builders of the 
"grapevine bridge" at White Oak swamp in Virginia. He was a 
good soldier and an efficient officer. 

CIVIL LIST. 

Judges of Probate. — 1773, Henry Rust, for Strafford County, 
under the English government. 1883, Sewall W. Abbott. 

Judges of Common Pleas. — Henry B. Rust (for Straflford 
County before its division). 1841-46, Nathaniel Rogers (for Car- 
roll County). 1847-54. Thomas Rust (for Carroll County). 
Register of Deeds. — 1843-73, Loammi Hardy. 

County Treasurers. — 1872-73, Joseph W. Goodwin. 1883-87, 
Henry W. Furbur. Solicitor. — 1841-45, Zachariah Eatchelder. 
Sheriffs. — 1861-64, Charles H. Parker. 1879-80, Levi T. Haley. 
1899-1900, Frank P. Hobbs. County Commissioners. — Augus- 
tine D. Avery, Charles Nowell, Thomas L. Whitten, Alphonzo 
H. Rust, Hezekiah Willand, Alfred Brown, Walter A. Sherburne, 
Stephen W. Clow. 

Delegates to Constitutional Conventions for Wolfeborough and 
Classed Towns. — 1781, Nathaniel Shannon, Moultonborough. 
1788, Nathaniel Shannon, Moultonborough. 1791, Col. Nathan 
Hoitt, Moultonborough. Delegates to Constitutional Conven- 
tions for Wolfeborough. — 1850, Thomas L. Whitton, Henry B. 
Rust. 1876, Thomas L. Whitton, Jethro R. Furbur. 1889, Alvah 
S. Libbey, George F. Mathes. Councillors. — 1840-41, Henry B. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 429 

Rust. 1846, John C. Young. 1858-59, Thomas L. Whitton. 1864, 
John M. Brackett. 1871, Alphonzo H. Rust. 1897-98, Charles 
F. Piper. Senators. — 1830, Henry B. Rust. 1885, Levi T. Haley. 
Representatives. — 1775, Moses Ham. (To Colonial Conven- 
tion.) 1779, Matthew S. Parker. (For New Durham, the Gore, 
and Wolfetx)rough.) 1785, Reuben Libbey. (For Moulton- 
borough, Wolfeborough, and Ossipee Gore.) 1793, Reuben Lib- 
bey. (For Moultonborough, Ossipee, Tuftonborough, and 
Wolfeborough.) 1795, Henry Rust, Jr. (For Brookfield and 
Wolfeborough.) 1798-1800, Henry Rust, Jr. 1801-05, Isaiah 
Home. 1806, Nathaniel Brown. 1807, Isaiah Home. 1808-09, 
Jacob Haines. 1810-12, Jonathan Blake. 1813, Jacob Haines. 
1814-15, Jonathan Blake. 1817-18, Samuel Meder. 1819, 
Jonathan Blake. 1820, Samuel Fox. 1821, Thomas Nute. 1822- 
23, Samuel Fox. 1824-25, John C. Young. 1826, Samuel Fox. 
1827, John C. Young. 1828-29, Henry B. Rust. 1830-33, 
Thomas J. Tebbetts. 1834-35, Nathaniel Rogers. 1836-37, 
Samuel Nudd, Jr. 1838, Henry B. Rust. 1839, Henry B. Rust, 
Thomas L. Whitton. 1840, Thomas L. Whitton, Benjamin F. 
Thompson. 1841, Benjamin F. Thompson, James Thurston. 
1842, James Thurston, John Cate. 1843-44, George W. G. Whit- 
ton, Augustine D. Avery. 1745, John Cate, Thomas Cotton. 
1846, Henry B. Rust, Thomas Cotton. 1847, Henry B. Rust, 
Lewis L. Whitehouse. 1848, Lewis L. Whitehouse, John L. 
Meder. 1849, John L. Meder, John P. Cotton. 1850, John P. 
Cotton, Levi T. Hersey. 185 1, Levi T. Hersey, James Bick- 
ford. 1852, James Bickford, Henry B. Rust. 1853, Thomas L. 
Whitton, Augustine L. Avery. 1854, E. D. Barker, Matthias 
Haines. 1855, John M. Brackett, Thomas L. Whitton. 1856, 
George W. Furbur, Thomas Nute. 1857, John M. Brackett, 
Elliot Cotton. 1858, Charles H. Parker, Elliot Cotton. 1859, 
Charles H. Parker, Aaron Roberts. 1860-61, Moses Thompson, 
J. C. Young. 1862, Alphonzo H. Rust, Thomas Nute. 1863, 
Alphonzo H. Rust, John L. Goldsmith. 1864, David C. Rogers, 



430 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



John L. Goldsmith. 1865, Joseph R. Haines, David C. Rogers. 
1866, Joseph R. Haines, William B. Hodge. 1867-68, Joseph 
W. Goodwin, John Tebbetts, Jr. 1869-70, Elisha Goodwin, Blake 
Folsom. 1871, Thomas Nute, Daniel Martin. 1872, Daniel 
Martin, Alvah S. Libbey. 1873, Alvah S. Libbey, William A. 
Smith. 1874, Alonzo Thompson, Andrew J. Drew. 1875, Alonzo 
Thompson, Israel B. Manning. 1876, Andrew J. Drew, IraBanfield. 
1877, Ira Banfield, Joseph R. Haines. 1878, Joseph R. Haines, 
James J. Rendall. 1878 (Fall election), William A. Smith. 
1880, John W. Peavey, Charles W. Young. 1882, Samuel Wyatt, 
A. J. Varney. 1884, George F. Horn, James H. Martin. 1886, 
Charles F. Piper, Charles A. Whitton, 1888, Israel B. Manning, 
Gideon Gilman. 1890, Frank W. Hicks, Charles F. Blake, 
George W. Bassett. 1892, George F. Mathes, Stephen W. Clow, 
Jonas W. Piper. 1894, Charles H. Tibbetts, Charles S. Paris, 
George A. Carpenter. 1896, George A. Carpenter, Joseph Le- 
wando, James Stevenson. 1898, Joseph Lewando, Fred E. Her- 
sey, John A. Chamberlain. 1900, John H. Home, Fred R. Blake. 
Clerks. — 1770, Jotham Rindge. 1771-72, John Flagg. 1773, 
John Sinclair. 1774-80, Matthew S. Parker. 1781-84, Richard 
Rust. 1785-86, James Lucas, Jr. 1787-88, Matthew S. Parker, 
died in office. 1789, James Lucas, Jr. 1790-91, Henry Rust, Jr. 
1792, John Bassett. 1793-95, Henry Rust, Jr. 1796-1800, Isaiah 
Home. 1801-03, Mark Wiggin. 1804, Samuel Meder. 1805-07, 
Samuel Dimon. 1808, Samuel Meder. 1809, Mark Wiggin. 
1810-11, Samuel Piper. 1812, Mark Wiggin. 1813-14, Samuel 
Piper. 181 5-16, Thomas Stevenson. 1817-18, Samuel Burley. 
1819-21, Samuel Avery. 1822-24, Thomas Stevenson. 1825-26, 
Thomas Rust. 1827-30, Joseph Banfield. 183 1, Samuel Avery. 
T832-35, Samuel Nudd, Jr. 1836, Alvah Chamberlain. 1837, 
Nathaniel Willey. 1838-40, Loammi Hardy. 1841, A. D. Avery. 
1842, Loammi Hardy. 1843, A. D. Avery. 1844, John Haines. 
1845-46, Samuel S. Parker. 1847-48, John Haines. 1849, Joseph 
L. Avery. 1850-51, Matthias M. Haines. 1852-53, Eleazer D. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 431 

Barker. 1854-55, Andrew J. Tebbetts. 1856, John Nowell. 
1857-58, Oilman Cooper. 1859-61, Jones W. Piper 1867-68, 
John W. Avery. 1869-71, Jonas W. Piper. 1872, Daniel F. 
Whitton. 1873, Jonas W. Piper. 1874-75, Charles H. Hodgdon. 
1876-78, Oliver Dowlin. 1879, Charles F. Piper. 1880-81. 
George F. Horn. 1882-83, Dudley C. Frost. 1884-85, Forest W. 
Peavey. 1886-87, William J. Mattison, Sewall W. Abbott. 1888, 
Curtis J. Frost. 1889, Sylvester A. Edgerly. 1891-94, Eugene 
L. Peaslee. 1895-96, William J. Britton. 1897, Joseph Clifton 
Avery. 1898-1901, William J. Britton. 

Selectmen. — 1770-71, Thomas Lucas, John Sinclair, Jacob 
Sceggell. 1772, John Flagg, Benjamin Folsom, Ithiel Clifford. 
1773, Benjamin Folsom, Thomas Taylor, James Connor. 1774. 
Henry Rust, James Connor, Thomas Lucas. 1775-77, Henry 
Rust, Robert Calder, Moses Ham. 1778-79, Henry Rust, 
Ebenezer Meder, Matthew S. Parker. 1780, Henry Rust, 
Jonathan Lary, Matthew S. Parker. 1781, Henry Rust, James 
Connor, Ebenezer Meder. 1782, Reuben Libbey, William 
Rogers, William Lucas. 1783, Richard Rust, William Rogers, 
Isaiah Home. 1784, John Martin, Richard Rust, Isaiah Home, 
William Lucas, Andrew Lucas. 1785, Reuben Libbey, Ebenezer 
Meder, James Lucas, Jr. 1786-88, Matthew S. Parker, died in 
office, James Lucas, Jr., Ebenezer Meder. 1789, James Lucas, 
Jr., Isaiah Home, Richard Rust. 1790, Richard Rust, Jacob 
Haines, William Cotton. 1791, Richard Rust, James Lucas, 
Jr., Isaiah Home. 1792, Moses Varney, Samuel Tibbetts, 
Stephen H. Home. 1793-94, Richard Rust, James Lucas, Jr., 
Jacob Haines. 1795, Richard Rust, Nathaniel Brown, Samuel 
Tibbetts, Jr. 1796, Richard Rust, James Lucas, Jr., Jacob Haines. 
1797, Mark Wiggin, Nathaniel Brown, Ebenezer Meder. 1798, 
Mark Wiggin, Nathaniel Brown, Samuel Estes. 1799- 1803, Mark 
Wiggin, Jonathan Blake, Dudley Hardy. 1804, John Young, 
Samuel Fox. Henry R. Parker. 1805, Mark Wiggin, Jonathan 
Blake, Dudley Hardy. 1806. Mark Wiggin. Jonathan Blake, 



432 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

John L. Piper. 1807, John L. Piper, Samuel Dimon, Jonathan 
Blake. 1808, John L. Piper, Jonathan Blake, Samuel Nowell. 
1809-11, Jonathan Blake, Dudley Hardy, Thomas Stevenson. 
1812, Thomas Stevenson, Isaiah G. Orne, Jonathan Bickford, 
Jr. 1813, Thomas Stevenson, Jonathan Blake, Jonathan Bick- 
ford, Jr. 1814-15, Thomas Stevenson, Zachariah Young, 
Jonathan Blake. 1816, Thomas Stevenson, Jonathan Blake, 
James Sceggell. 1817, Samuel Fox, William Cotton, Jr., Henry 
R. Parker. 1818, Thomas Stevenson, Henry R. Parker, William 
Cotton, Jr. 1819, Thomas Stevenson, Dudley Hardy, Henry R. 
Parker. 1820, Henry R. Parker, William Cotton, Jr., Wilmot 
Bickford. 1821, Thomas Stevenson, William Cotton, Jr., James 
Haines. 1822, Thomas Stevenson, Samuel Nowell, William Cot- 
ton. 1823, Jonathan Blake, William Cotton, Henry R. Parker. 
1824, Thomas Stevenson, William Cotton (died in office), Henry 
R. Parker. 1825, John C. Young, Samuel Avery, Thomas 
Stevenson. 1826, Jonathan Blake, John C. Young, Thomas Rust. 
1827, John C. Young, Thomas Rust, John Cate. 1828-29, John 
Cate, Thomas J. Tebbetts, William Thompson. 1830, Samuel 
Avery, James Sceggell, James Rogers. 1831, John Cate, Mat- 
thias Haines, James Rogers. 1832, John Cate, George E. Nudd, 
Charles B. Orne. 1833, Samuel Fox, John C. Young, Richard 
Nudd. 1834, Richard Nudd, Benjamin F. Thompson, Thomas 
Rust. 1835, Samuel Avery, Matthias Haines, Benjamin F. 
Thompson. 1836, Benjamin F. Thompson, Samuel Nudd, James 
Thurston. 1837, Benjamin F. Thompson, James Thurston, Levi 
Towle. 1838, Levi Towle, Thomas L. Whitton, Samuel Nudd. 

1839, Thomas L. Whitton, Nathaniel Banfield, James Thurston. 

1840, James Thurston, Samuel Fox, Robert Wiggin. 1841, John 
Cate, Samuel Nudd, Jr., Thomas L. Whitton. 1842, John Cate, 
James Thurston, Thomas L. Whitton. 1843-44, Thomas L. 
Whitton, Benjamin F. Thompson, James Bickford. 1845, James 
Bickford, John P. Cotton, John Fox. 1846, Thomas L. Whitton, 
Levi T. Hersey, John Fox. 1847-48, Levi T. Hersey, John P. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



433 



Cotton, Samuel S. Parker, died in office. 1849, Thomas L. Whit- 
ton, Levi T. Hersey, James Sceggell. 1850, Thomas L. Whitton, 
Henry B. Rust, James Sceggell. 185 1, James Sceggell, John L. 
Furbur, Matthias M. Haines. 1852, James Sceggell, Levi T. 
Hersey, John P. Cotton. 1853, John P. Cotton, Benjamin F. 
Thompson, George W. Furber. 1855, Elliot Cotton, Benjamin 
F. Parker, Richard R. Davis. 1856, Woodbury P. Home, David 
Blake, James Bickford. 1857, Benjamin F. Parker, Richard R. 
Davis, Charles O. Rendall. 1858, Charles O. Rcndall, George 
Rust, George W. Hersey. 1859, George Rust, George W. Her- 
sey, Daniel Martin. 1860-61, Daniel Martin, Gilman Cooper, 
John L. Furber. 1862-63, David C. Rogers, Hezekiah Willand, 
Thomas J. Blaisdell. 1864, Woodbury P. Home, George W. 
Furbur, Joseph W. Goodwin. 1865-66, Woodbury P. Home, 
Moses Thompson, Charles H. Nudd. 1867-68, David C. Rogers, 
John J. Chamberlain, Charles G. Gate. 1869, Charles G. Gate, 
Daniel Martin, Alonzo L Orne. 1870, John H. Rust, Nathaniel 
Wiggin, Daniel Martin. 1871, John Tibbetts, Nathaniel Wig- 
gin, John H. Rust. 1872, John H. Rust, Samuel J. Stevenson, Wil- 
liam A. Smith. 1873, Daniel Martin, John G. Gate, Henry G. 
Home. 1874-75, Alfred Brown, Hezekiah Willand, Charles F. 
Blake. 1876-77, Alfred Brown, Hezekiah Willand, Nathaniel 
Hicks. 1878, Hezekiah Willand, Henry W. Furber, Augustine 
A. Fullerton. 1879, Jonas W. Piper, James H. Martin, Augus- 
tine A. Fullerton. 1880-81, Jonas W. Piper, James H. Martin, 
Charles F. Chase. 1882, Jonas W. Piper, James H. Martin, John 
L. Goldsmith. 1883, Jonas W. Piper, Joseph H. Bickford, 
Thomas J. Bickford. 1884, Jonas W. Piper, William B. Hodge, 
John L. Goldsmith. 1885, Jonas W. Piper, Walter A. Sher- 
burne, Charles G. Gate. 1886-87, Jonas W. Piper, Nathaniel T. 
Brewster, Stephen W. Clow. 1888, Stephen W. Clow, Nathaniel 
T. Brewster, Henry W. Furber. 1889, Stephen W. Clow, Nathaniel 
T. Brewster, Charles S. Paris. 1890, Stephen W^ Clow, Charles 
S. Paris, Eli C. Swett. 1891, Stephen W. Clow, Eli C. Swett, 



.^4 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

James H. Martin. 1892, Stephen W. Clow, Charles E. Stackpole, 
James E. Gridley. 1893-4, Stephen W. Clow, James E. Gridley, 
Fred E. Hersey. 1895-96, Fred E. Hersey, John H. Home, John 
A. Chamberlain. 1897, Fred E. Hersey, John H. Home, Samuel 
N. Furber, Jr. 1898, John H. Home, Samuel N. Furber, Jr., 
Fred R. Blake. 1899 Fred R. Blake, Stephen W. Clow, Fred S. 
Libbey. 1900, Stephen W. Clow, Fred S. Libbey, Horace Rust. 
1901, Stephen W. Clow, Horace Rust, Wilbur H. Oilman. 




JOHN BREvVSTER 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

The Brewster Family — John Brewster and his Liberal Be- 
quests TO his Native Town — Text of a Portion of his 
Will. 

ANY sketch of the Brewster family in Wolfeborough must cen- 
ter around the name of John, its most notable representative 
and the town's chief benefactor. The first Brewster to take up 
his abode in the town was Daniel, who came here with his two 
sons, Daniel and George, at least a generation after the first set- 
tlers had set up their humble homes. Daniel was descended 
from that famed spiritual leader. Elder William Brewster, who 
landed at Plymouth with the Mayflower company in 1620. A 
grandson of the Elder crossed the bay to Portsmouth, where the 
first mentioned Daniel was born in 1735. 

Daniel's two sons were farmers. George Flagg Brewster, a 
son of the second Daniel, lived on the farm until his death. His 
son, Eli v., has been a prominent citizen of Dover, having served 
as mayor. Another son, George F., after living on the farm for 
several years, also removed to Dover. 

George Brewster had eight children who lived until maturity, 
one of whom, Daniel, succeeded him on the home farm. This 
Daniel had three sons, Nathaniel T., John L., and Jonathan 
M. Nathaniel T. now occupies the old homestead and is a farmer 
on a large scale, owning extensive tracts of land and many head 
of cattle. John L. has been a teacher, a banker, and superin- 
tendent of schools of Lawrence, Mass. Until his removal to 
Andover a few years since he was active in all that pertained to 
the welfare of the former town. He is a trustee of the estate of 
John Brewster and a trustee and treasurer of Brewster Free 
Academy. Jonathan M. was a leading clergyman of the Free 

435 



436 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



Baptist denomination, and died in Providence, R. I., some years 
since. 

We now come to John Brewster, another son of George, who, 
in his last will, after making ample provisions for his son and other 
relatives and friends, devised the annual income of the residue 
of his estate, which exceeded a million dollars, chiefly for the 
benefit of his native town of Wolfeborough and the neighboring 
town of Tuftonborough. He bequeathed the Wolfeborough and 
Tuftonborough Academy ten thousand dollars annually with 
these conditions: That its name should be changed to that of 
the Brewster Free School or Academy, and that there should be 
no restrictions as to age, sex, or color, but that all should be re- 
quired to possess a "good moral character." He also made pro- 
vision for the erection of a town hall at a cost of thirty-five 
thousand dollars and for the establishment of a free library. The 
balance was to be applied "one-half for the use of the academy, 
the other to be used equally for the support of the worthy poor 
and the common schools in Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough." 
Detailed accounts of the development of these various bequests 
will be found in other chapters of this work. We give here 
liberal extracts from a sketch of Mr. Brewster, prepared by a 
nephew and read at the mass meeting at the Old Home exercises 
held Aug. 14, 1900. 

"The boyhood of John Brewster was similar to that of most sons 
of farmers of that period. He had two or three terms in the 
Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy, which had been 
chartered in 1820. His life in Wolfeborough was brief. In the 
autumn of 1828, a few weeks before he was sixteen years old, he 
was hired to teach school in the Nute district at West Milton, 
on the very spot where Lewis W. Nute, benefactor of Milton, had 
his district school life. It so happened that young Nute was 
among John Brewster's pupils. This was Mr. Brewster's only 
service in school teaching. He, however, returned tO' Wolfe- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



437 



borough no more except as a visitor, a thing which he never 
failed to do at least once a year during his entire life. 

"Closing his school early in 1829, he entered the service of his 
maternal uncle, Jonathan Torr, of Rochester, who kept a store 
for general trade such as was common in the large villages of 
the time. A long and severe illness of his uncle threw the whole 
responsibility of the store upon Mr. Brewster, which the pro- 
prietor found on his recovery had been discharged to his entire 
satisfaction. At eighteen, Mr. Brewster entered the hardware 
store of William Hale on Dover Landing. To within the memory 
of some present here, Mr. Hale's was the leading store of its 
kind in eastern New Hampshire south of the White Mountains. 
Dover was then developing what has since been her leading in- 
dustry, the manufacture of textiles. Mr. Hale sold gunpowder 
and so was not allowed to keep open store after sunset. During 
his five years of service at Dover, Mr. Brewster spent many even- 
ings in busy times in the dry-goods stores helping the clerks in 
their work, and he thus acquired a knowledge of that trade. 

"At twenty-three, he told his employer that he had determined 
to try his fortune in the dry-goods trade in Boston. He had saved 
twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Hale said. "You need ten 
thousand dollars more ; I will lend you half and your father and 
your two maternal uncles must endorse for the other half." This 
was done. In Hanover street, on the site of the present 
"American House," the firm of Williams & Brewster opened the 
second store on what had been entirely a residence street. The 
firm lasted but a single year, but it had been so successful that 
the ten thousand dollars was paid at its dissolution. A new firm, 
John Brewster & Co., in which Julius Cushman and John Ban- 
croft were the partners, succeeded the previous one and did a 
prosperous business through the crisis of 1837, when so many 
houses failed, until 1845, when they removed to W^ater street, just 
below Post-office square, and became a wholesale house. This 



438 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



arrangement continued until 1850; then Mr. Brewster sold his 
interest to Alfred H. Otis of Dover, and retired. 

"Mr. Brewster married Rebecca P. Noyes of Boston in 1839. 
Their home was first in Brighton street, next in Louisburg square, 
then in Eaton street, all in the so-called "West End" of Boston, 
np to 1845. In that year Mr. Brewster bought the Judge Sewall 
place, located in "Tory Row" of the Revolution, a house which 
had been confiscated by the colonial government, and inci- 
dentally, made a prison for Baron Riedesel in 1777. It is now 
No. 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. With the exception of two years 
at South Reading, now Wakefield, Mass., this remained Mr. 
Brewster's home for the remaining forty years of his life. His 
only surviving child, Mr. William Brewster, named for Mr. Hale, 
now lives on the same spot. 

"In the spring of 1851, during the two years of farm life at 
Wakefield, the banking firm of Brewster, Sweet & Co. was 
formed, at No. 76 State St., Mr. Charles A. Sweet who had been 
trained in the banking-house of Gilbert & Sons, being the sole 
partner. In the autumn of that year the concern was a modest 
one, and the two partners, with the aid of a messenger-boy, did 
the entire work. A year or two later they removed to No. 40 
State St., where they remained for more than twenty years — until 
the firm was broken up in 1874. In those years, that which had 
begun very small had become one of the leading houses of its 
kind in New England. The house antedated the Civil War by 
ten years. At the time of its founding there were few if any muni- 
cipal or government bonds. By the spring of 1861, the firm of 
Brewster, Sweet & Co. had so gained the public confidence, that 
on the recommendation of Senator Sumner, Mr. Brewster met 
Secretary Chase and Mr. Jay Cooke in Philadelphia, where a 
discussion of the financial situation resulted in the firm of 
Brewster, Sweet & Co. being made fiscal agent for the govern- 
ment in all New England except Connecticut. Mr. Brewster 
once said, 'That placed us on our feet.' The commission on 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. ^^,9 

the sale of bonds was one-fourth of one per cent., and the one 
quarter was divided equally with the agencies which had been 
established at good centers over the whole territory. The sales 
were enormous, for that time almost fabulous ; sometimes more 
than a million dollars a week, and probably an average of half 
a million a week for the four years of the war. After the war 
came the refunding of the government loan, the sale of railroad, 
state, and municipal bonds. In this the firm did a large business 
until 1874, the year of the retirement of Mr. Sweet. A new firm 
was then founded, that of Brewster, Bassett & Co., with Mr. Wil- 
liam Bassett, Mr. Henry E. Cobb, and Mr. Arthur F. Estabrook 
as the partners. Mr. Estabrook had entered the office of 
Brewster, Sweet & Co. in 1857, a boy at the very bottom, and is 
a striking example of what ability, energy, and honesty can do 
in our country. He has never flagged in his admiration for Mr. 
Brewster, a fact which is witnessed by the supplementary work 
on the grounds where in obedience to a general desire one of the 
buildings bears his name. The new firm took a new location at 
35 Congress St., where its successors, Brewster, Cobb & Esta- 
brook and Estabrook & Co., have continued to the present time. 

'Tn February, 1883, few weeks after he was seventy years old, 
Mr. Brewster retired from active business, though he retained a 
silent interest in the house till his death, January 13, 1886. 

"Such is the brief outline of the life of a strong, quiet man, who 
has made for himself an enduring name throughout this region 
where we are today. In business he was a man of few words, 
i.iit those words were as good as his bond. Outside of his family, 
he had a few choice friends who knew his inner life. In his family 
he was one of the kindest and most considerate of men ; it was a 
delight to visit his home. The years since Mr. Brewster died have 
been few, and yet the girls and boys who have been benefited here 
already number among the hundreds ; the uplift has already been 
felt. The schools of this town and the town of Tuftonborough 
are experiencing the impulse for good which will be greater as 



^O HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

time goes on. Life has been and will be made smoother for the 
worthy poor. The trustees beHeve that they are doing the work 
as he would have done it. They are grateful to all who have 
aided, and to none more than the teachers, and especially the 
principal, of the Brewster Free Academy, who has been here all 
the years of its life. The verdict of mankind will be that John 
Brewster has lived and wrought worthily. 

Nathaniel Brewster married Mary E. Chesley. His children 
are: Sarah, born Sept. 12, 1857; Belle, born July 29, 1859, died 
May 10, 1892; Emma L., born Sept. 21, 1863; George L., born 
July 4, 1865; Harriet F., bom May 8, 1868; Elizabeth A., born 
Aug. 24, 1870; Inez A., born Aug. 13, 1874. George L. is asso- 
ciated with his father in the management of the farm. 

John L. Brewster married Ada A., a daughter of Hon. William 
Tenney of Hanover, N. H. His children are : Edward Tenney, 
born July 24, 1864, died young; Edward Tenney, born Oct. 11, 
1866, married Alice S. Rollins, is an instructor at Phillips An- 
dover Academy; William T ., bom Aug. 15, 1869, is an instructor 
at Columbia University ; Edward T. and William T. graduated 
at Harvard in 1890 and 1892 respectively. 

William Brewster, son of John, is famous in the scientific world 
for his researches in the field of ornithology. His private col- 
lection at his Cambridge home is one of the finest in the world. 
He is an instructor at the Agassiz Museum at Harvard, 
holds honorary degrees from that institution and has been of- 
ficially connected with numerous scientific bodies. 

Following are the public bequests contained in John 
Brewster's will: 

Item Six : — My trustee shall out of the net income remaining 
after making the payments hereinbefore provided pay annually, 
in equal quarterly payments, the sum of $10,000 to the Wolfe- 
borough and Tuftonborough Academy, in my native town of 
Wolfeborough, in the state of New Hampshire, for the charitable 
and educational uses and purposes of said academy ; but the said 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUaH. 441 

annual payments are to and shall be made only upon the follow- 
ing conditions: (i) That the name of said academy shall be 
changed to and thereafter continue to be that of the Brewster 
Free School or Academy. (2) That no restriction shall be 
placed upon any person desiring to attend and receive instruction 
from said school or academy on account of his or her age, sex or 
color, provided only he or she is of good moral character. (3) 
That not more than 25 per cent, of said annuity shall be spent 
in erecting buildings or in alterations, improvements or repairs 
upon the same ; the remaining income from the provision of my 
will to be expended wholly for salaries of teachers for instruction 
and educational purposes of said school or academy : so as near 
as possible to make instruction and education therein free. 

Item Seven : — My trustees shall use and appropriate all the 
rest and residue of the net income of my estate remaining in their 
hands after making the payments hereinbefore provided, to the fol- 
lowing uses and purposes : One-half part thereof shall be allowed 
to accumulate in the hands of my said trustees, who shall invest 
the same in the manner hereinbefore provided for the investment 
of my estate, until such part, with accumulations thereon, shall 
be sufficient for the purpose herein stated. They shall then, with 
said sum, erect in my native town of Wolfeborough, N. H., a 
plain brick building, as nearly as possible, on the plan of and like 
the public building or Town Hall, erected by W. S. Sargent in 
and for the town of Merrimack in Massachusetts ; said building 
shall be held by my trustees forever for the use and benefit of the 
inhabitants of the town of Wolfeborough, as and for a town and 
public library. The stores in said building on the lower floor 
shall be rented by my trustees and all the rent and income over 
and above the expenses and charges arising therefrom, shall be 
by them used and appropriated for the necessary care and repairs 
of said building, and for the care, support and purchase of books 
for the said pu])lic library to be in said building. Said trustees 
shall keep said building fully insured and in case of the loss or 



442 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



destruction of said building they shall, from the proceeds of such 
insurance re-erect said building in as nearly possible the same 
manner and style and on the same plan as it was before erected, 
and in case said insurance should be insufficient to do this then 
my trustees shall use any income remaining after making the pay- 
ments hereinbefore provided for re-erecting said building. 

Item Eight : — After making the provision provided for in Item 
Seven my trustees shall use and appropriate any and all remain- 
ing net income in the following manner and for the following 
uses: 

(i) They shall use, pay over or appropriate one-quarter part 
thereof, annually, to and for the use, support and maintenance of 
the free schools of and in my native town of Wolfeborough and 
of and in the town of Tuftonborough, N. H., the same to be paid 
or appropriated in proportion to amounts annually raised and 
appropriated by or for the several school districts in the said 
towns respectively. The payments of said annuity are to be made 
at such times and manner as to my trustees shall seem best to 
accomplish the purpose of this bequest of the amounts so paid 
or appropriated. A sum not exceeding one-third part thereof 
may be used in building, repairing and improving schoolhouses 
in said towns as my trustees may deem expedient. (2) My said 
trustees shall use, pay over and appropriate one-quarter part of 
such remaining income annually to and for the use. support and 
maintenance of the deserving poor and persons needing aid in the 
said towns of Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough in New Hamp- 
shire, to be paid, appropriated or distributed in such manner, at 
such times, and to such persons as to my trustees shall seem best 
to accomplish the purpose of this bequest. And the decision of 
my trustees as to such payments and appropriations for said 
schools and for said persons needing aid shall be final and con- 
clusive. (3) My trustees shall use and appropriate all income 
from my estate remaining after making all payments and carrying 
out all provisions hereinbefore made for the use and benefit of 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 443 

said Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy upon the same 
conditions and restrictions as are stated in Item Six of this will, 
except that, if deemed expedient by my trustees, an amount not 
exceeding 50 per cent, of the amount herein and hereby ap- 
propriated may be used and expended in erecting, repairing or 
improving buildings for the use of said school. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Wolfeborough's Foremost Settler — Colonel Henry Rust 
AND His Long Train of Descendants — The Four 
Henreys — The Three Worthies — The Parker 
Branch of the Family — Other Parkers. 

ALL things considered, there is one man who above all others 
merits the title of the "leading settler of Wolfeborough." 
He was the only town proprietor who cultivated his own hold- 
ing ; his sons first swung the pioneer's axe in these wilds ; he 
labored long and faithfully for the welfare of his backwoods home, 
and founded a family whose representatives have always been 
prominent in the town's affairs. This man was Henry Rust. 

Mr. Rust, first known by the title "Captain," but more gen- 
erally by that of "Colonel," was bom in Stratham, Jan. 22, 1726. 
He was a descendant of the Henry Rust who came from Hing- 
ham, Norfolk County, England, about 1633, and settled at Hing- 
ham, Mass. Col. Rust was of the fifth generation from the emi- 
grant, and was the fourth child of Rev. Henry Rust, who was 
the first minister settled in Stratham. He married Ann Harvey, 
of Portsmouth, and from the union were bom eleven children, 
four of them dying in infancy and seven of them marrying and 
living their entire lives in Wolfeborough. Mrs. Rust died June 
II, 1807, four days after the decease of her husband, who lived 
to be eighty-one years old. 

Colonel Rust's children were: Anna, born Nov. 4, 1751, 
married Matthew Stanley Parker, died June 17, 1786; Henry, 
bora March 4, 1754, died Oct. 23, 1754; Henry 2nd, born May 
14, 1755, married Hannah Home; Richard, bom Jan. 31, 1757. 
married Susannah Connor and Joanna (Hobbs) Jewett ; Elisa- 
beth, born Sept. 24, 1758. married Deeren Stoddard, died Jan. 

444 




HON. HENRY B. RUST 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



445 



12, 1809; Thomas, born May 19, 1760 died March 27, 1761 ; 
Mary, born Aug. 23, 1761, married Isaiah Home, died Sept. 30, 
1843 ; Jane, bom Nov. 19, 1763, married John Home, died July 
15, 1843; WilHam, born Aug. 7, 1765, married Hannah Marble, 
Susannah Melvin, and Nancy Wedgewood ; Nathaniel, born Aug. 
15, 1767, died Oct. 28, 1767; Margaret, bom July 26, 1768, died 
Dec. 18, 1768. 

Captain Rust probably made his early home in Portsmouth, 
as in 1759, when he became one of the proprietors of the town, 
he was master of a vessel, a position which necessitated years 
of experience in navigation. He continued the sea-faring busi- 
ness somewhat after commencing his settlement in Wolfeborough, 
as Ik shown by letters. He did not at first remove the whole of 
his family to the town. Certainly his sons, Henry, aged fourteen 
years, and Richard, aged twelve years, spent one winter at least 
in the log camp built on the northeasterly border of his lot. They 
had with them an antiquated equine for emergencies. Mrs. Rust, 
who had spent her youth and early womanhood in Portsmouth, 
it is said, reluctantly exchanged the town for the forest. Yet in 
the autumn of her life she possessed a home "beautiful for situa- 
tion on the fine ridge of land bordering that lovely sheet of water 
still known as Rust's Pond. 

Colonel Rust was the only town proprietor who settled on 
his lot, which contained six hundred acres of land situated in 
the southerly part of the town, embracing within its limits a large 
portion of Rust's Pond and the territory on which stands the 
village of South Wolfeborough. On the westerly side of this 
lot he built a log cabin, which was occupied by the male members 
of his family while clearing land, before the whole family re- 
moved to Wolfeborough. While the laborers were one day 
absent, this took fire, consuming their guns, provisions, and 
clothing, including their hats, which were not usually worn into 
the forests, as the prevalence of noxious insects required that 
the entire head should be covered. As a result, the entire party 



446 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



were compelled to return to Portsmouth in light marching order. 

Colonel Rust's lot of six hundred acres was eventually divided in- 
to four parts. He retained the portion lying north of Rust's Pond, 
and, having taken into his family his grandson, Henry Rust 
Parker, finally bequeathed it to him, and it was ever afterwards 
known as the Parker place, although it is at the present time in 
the possession of persons of other names. The portion south of 
this he gave to his son Henry. It descended to his son, Henry 
Bloomfield Rust, and then to his son Alphonzo H. Rust. It 
is not now in the possession of any members of the Rust family. 
The lot on which a portion of the village of South Wolfeborough 
now stands was given to Richard Rust, and, beginning with the 
settler, has been in the possession of six generations of the 
family, viz.. Colonel Henry Rust, Richard Rust, Henry Rust, 
George Rust, John Henry Rust, and Horace Rust. The seventh 
generation is represented on this farm in the person of Lottie 
L., daughter of Horace, aged two years. The most easterly 
portion of the settler's lot was given to his son William, passed 
into the hands of William, Jr., and then to the families of his 
grand-daughters, Hannah (Rust) Thompson and Betsy (Rust) 
Leavitt. It is now owned by Harry R. Leavitt, a great-grandson. 

Colonel Henry Rust was regarded as a just and conscientious 
man, but fixed in his opinions and somewhat austere in his de- 
portment. His early training as ship-master no doubt had an 
influence upon his later life. His word was a law to himself, 
and generally to others also. Being appointed Judge of Probate 
for Strafiford County when the colony of New Hampshire was 
under English rule, he took the oath of allegience to the crown, 
and after the state government was established, declined to accept 
of any office that would require a like oath to the American 
government. He was very useful in deciding matters of dispute 
between neighbors and townsmen, the decision of Colonel Rust 
being generally regarded as final. He possessed sound judgment 
and honest intentions, and, having the confidence of the general 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



447 



public, no doubt prevented some vexatious and expensive litig-a- 
tion. 

He and his family connections have been much in office. He 
served eight years as selectman. His son Henry was town clerk 
five years and a member of the state legislature four years, the 
first year representing the classed towns, Wolfeborough and 
Brookfield, and the other three years Wolfeborough alone. His 
son Richard served as town clerk four years and as selectman 
nine years. His son-in-law, Matthew S. Parker, was town clerk 
nine years and selectman six years. He held both these offices 
at the time of his death, which occurred when he was in the 
prime of manhood. His acquired ability was far superior to any 
other citizen of the town. Had he not lived, the history of Wolfe- 
borough would have been more incomplete than it is. His son- 
in-law, Isaiah Home, served as selectman four years, town clerk 
four years, and as representative six years. His grandson, Henry 
Rust Parker, served as selectman seven years, his grandsons, 
Isaiah Green Orne and Charles Belker Orne, each one year. 
His grandson, Thomas Rust, held the office of town clerk two 
years and that of selectman three years. He was also a county 
judge. His grandson, Henry Bloomfield Rust, served as selectman 
one year and as representative six years, was a member of the 
New Hampshire Senate and of the Council, and was judge of 
the county court. Alphonzo Rust was twice representative and 
twice councilor. His great-grandson, George Rust, and his great- 
great-grandson, John H. Rust, were each twice elected selectmen. 
Colonel Rust and his descendants have, since the org^anization 
of the town, held the office of town clerk twenty-six years, of 
selectman forty-five years, of representative eighteen years. 

*Henry Rust, Jr., married Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer 
Home. He died Nov. 2, 1844. His wife died Oct. 4. 1843, sg'ed 

•Henry Rust made many of the early surveys in this and adjoining 
towns. In 1804 he projected a map of the town, upon which are 
based many of the deeds given since that time. Many copies of these 
deeds are now in the possession of his grandson, Albert B. Rust. 



448 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



eighty-one years. Their children were: Hannah, born Dec. 21, 
1784, married Henry Rust Parker; Ann, born Jan. 20, 1788, died 
Jan. 23, 1793; Betsy Allen, born Dec. 13, 1790, married M. 
James Chamberlin, died Feb. 29, 1816; Henry Bloomfield, born 
May II, 1794, married Pamelia Home and Hannah S. Jewett; 
Nancy, bom Feb. 20, 1798, died June 23, 1799; Fanny Parker, 
born Feb. 13, 1800, died Oct., 1803. 

Richard Rust married first Susannah, daughter of James Con- 
nor. She died March 21, 1809, aged forty-six years. He mar- 
ried second Mrs. Joanna (Hobbs) Jewett, widow of Andrew 
Jewett, who died Nov. 15, 1822, aged fifty-one years. He mar- 
ried third Mrs. Eleanor Clark Piper, widow of John Light Piper. 
She died July 23, 1856, aged eighty-five years. Mr. Rust died 
Dec. 27, 1827, aged seventy years. His children, all by his first 
wife, were: Richard, born Apr. 2, 1782, married Sally Thurston ; 
Henry, born March 19, 1785, married Nancy Norris ; Susannah, 
bom Jan, 21, 1787, married Nathaniel Chase; Mary Connor, born 
July 7, 1789, married Oilman Folsom ; Eleanor, bom March 18, 

1792, married James Chamberlain; Joshua, born May 28, 1794, 
died April, 1802; Martha, bom July 20, 1796, married Nathaniel 
Rogers; Thomas, born Nov. 27, 1798, married Phebe C. Piper; 
Joseph Peirce, bom April 6, 1801, married Mary Chamberlain, 
died Jan. 31, 1848. 

William Rust, son of Col. Henry Rust, was born Aug. 7, 1765. 
He married Dec. 3, 1787 Hannah, daughter of Samuel Marble, 
of Stratham, bom Jan. 15, 1760, died Aug. 4, 1802. He 
married second Mrs. Susannah Melvin, who died Oct. 8, 
1815, aged forty-seven years; third, Mrs. Nancy Wedgewood, 
who died Aug. 4, 1845, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Rust died 
Sept. 5, 1851, aged eighty-six years. His children were: Wil- 
liam, born June i, 1788, married Olive Deland ; Nathaniel, born 
Sept. 9, 1790, married Lydia Folsom ; Sarah, bom Dec. 15, 

1793, married James, son of Jacob Folsom ; Meshack, Shadrich, 
and Abednego, triplets, bom Aug. 20, 1796; Meshack married 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. ^g 

Martha Frost; Shadrich died Feb. 2, 1797; Abednego married 
Hannah Mayhew and Sally Moulton ; Hannah, born Feb. 28, 
1801, died Dec. i, 1815. 

Henry Bloomfield Rust, son of Henry Rust and grandson of 
the settler, was born May 11, 1794. He was more widely known 
than any of the Rust family of Wolfeborough. He was christened 
Henry, but added Bloomfield to his name, assigning as a reason 
that there were too many Henry Rusts in the town, there being 
then on the check-list four of that name. Mr. Rust married, Dec. 
28, 181 5, Pamelia Home, by whom he had the following children : 
Pamelia CaroHne, born Aug. 14, 1816, married Ezra Pinkham, 
died Sept. 29, 1870; Henry Lorenzo, born July 11, 1818, married 
Lucinda Hancock and Alphonzo H., born. Feb. 8, 1820, married 
Betsy Furbur; Betsy Ann Parker, born Sept. 2, 1821, married 
James F. Dixon, died Oct. 2, 1847. He married second, Oct. 
I, 1823, Hannah S., daughter of Andrew Jewett. She was 
born in the Jewett Tavern April 13, 1798, and died May 29, 1888. 
She was a remarkably intelligent person, even when verging 
upon the age of an octogenarian. Judge Rust, as he was generally 
termed, was a man of fine physique and affable manners. For 
the first twelve years of his married life he lived with his father 
on the home farm, but in 1835 he removed to South Wolfe- 
borough village, where he spent the remainder of his life in 
various kinds of business, principally in merchandizing. For 
years he had a controlling influence in the village and even in 
the whole town of Wolfeborough. He was an ardent democrat, 
and occupied a prominent position in that party, which was for 
some decades dominant in the state of New Hampshire. In 
1828-9 he was a member of the new House of Representatives, 
in 1838 a member of the Senate, and in 1841-2 a member of the 
Council. In 1846-7 and in 1852 he was again a member of the 
House of Representatives, and in 1832 was appointed one of 
the associate judges of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. 
He died July 27, 1876, aged eighty-two years. By Mr. Rust's 



^^O HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

second marriage there were seven children : Joanna Adaline, 
born Aug. 25, 1824, died May 15, 1826; Charlotte Elvira, born 
Aug. 30, 1826, married Daniel Wood ; Augustus Jewett, born 
Oct. 19, 1828, died Sept. 6, 1836; Cecilia Eliza, born Dec. 28, 
1830, died Nov. 8, 1856; Albert Bloomfield, born Sept. 10, 1833; 
George Erastus Parker, born Dec. 28, 1835, married Josephine 
Haines and Lucy A. Pike ; Hannah Jewett, born July 9, 1839. 
married George Burbank, from whom she was divorced, and re- 
sumed the name of Rust, has one child, Eliza Harvey, born July 

9, 1865, married Arthur Q. Mosely, of Westfield, Mass. 
Henry Rust, the son of Richard Rust, was born March 19, 

1785, and married Nancy Norriss. Their children were : George, 
born July 10, 1810, died Sept. 25, 1890; Louisa, born Nov. i, 
1812, married John McDuffee. 

The above named George Rust married Drusilla B. Davis. The 
result of the union was three children : John Henry, born Nov. 

10, 1835, married Phoebe A. Webster; Lucy Ellen, born June 15, 
1845, married Curtis E. Wadleigh ; Harriet Anna, born Sept. 
13. 1847, died Oct. 13, 1864. 

Thomas Rust, son of Richard Rust and grandson of the settler, 
was born Nov. 2y, 1798. He spent his early life in teaching 
school and surveying, and succeeded his father in the care of 
the Rust Tavern, now the Sheridan House at Wolfeborough 
village. He was deputy postmaster several years, held the ofifices 
of town clerk, selectman, and school committee, did much 
business as justice of peace in settling estates, etc., and was 
county jvidge. He merchandized somewhat, was deacon and 
superintendent of the Sunday school connected with the Con- 
gregational Church for many years, and was a useful and cir- 
cumspect citizen during his long life. He died Jan. 16, 1890, 
aged ninety-two years. He married, March 19, 1823, Phebe C. 
Piper, who proved a helpmeet indeed. She died Sept. 15, 1887, 
aged eighty-seven years. Their children were: Susan Jane, 
born Jan. 5, 1825, married Rev. Nathaniel Coffin ; John Richard, 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



451 



born May 23, 1828, married Mary L. Pierce of Dover, N. H. ; 
Thomas Henry, died in infancy ; George Henry, born July 26, 
1839, married Josephine Varney. 

John Richard Rust was formerly a civil engineer, and engaged 
in the construction of railroads in New Hampshire, Ohio, 
Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maine, and Vermont, and for 
ten years held official relations with the St. Johnsbury and Lake 
Champlain railroad. He is now manufacturer of flour at the 
Forest Mills, near Zumbrota, Minn. 

Nathaniel Rust, son of William Rust and grandson of the 
Colonel, was born Sept. 9, 1790. He married first, Lydia Fol- 
som, daughter of Jacob Folsom, second, Fannie, daughter of 
Andrew Wiggin, third, Mary, widow of Benjamin Fullerton and 
daughter of James Wiggin. He was deacon of the First Christian 
Church of Wolfeborough. He died Aug. i. 1859. His children 
were: Hannah, born July i, 1817, married Josiah Norris ; 
Lydia, born Feb. 2t„ 1819, married Charles L. Hamilton, died 
Jan, 3, 1869 ; Nathaniel Parker, born Sept. 18, 1821, died Nov. 
23, 1823 ; Nathaniel Parker 2nd, born Sept. 28, 1824, married 
Sarah A. Stoddard and Harriet Wallace, killed in the War of 
the Rebellion; Frances Ann, born Nov. 21, 1827, married Wil- 
liam P. Watson, died March 29, 1867 ; Charles Augustus, born 
March 28, 1830, married Mary A. Rollins ; Martha Camelia, born 
Feb. 26, 1833, married W. K. Simmons and Joseph A. Johnson ; 
Alfred, born Dec. 20, 1840, died Apr. i, 1842. 

Henry Rust Parker, son of Matthew Stanley Parker, married 
Hannah H. Rust. Their children were : John Tappan, born 
Sept. 5, 1804, married Sally L. Seavey, died Sept. 25, 1848; 
Samuel Sewall, born Nov. 9, 1807, married Jane Cate, died Sept. 
20, 1848; Eliza Chamberlain, born Nov. 11. 181 1, died May 17, 
1825 ; Matthew Stanley, born June 22, 1812, married Clarrisa 
Blake and Elizabeth Perkins. 

The children of John Tappan Parker were: Eliza Frances, 
born July 30. 1826, married Asa Perkins and Clark Collins ; Ruth 



452 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



Ann, bom Aug, 19, 1832, married Moses Thompson, died March 
18, 1897 ; Henry Rust, born Jan. 24, 1836, married Ella, daughter 
of Moses and Hannah Thompson; George Seavey, born March 
2, 1842. 

Henry Rust Parker, the son mentioned above, is a self-made 
man. He was left an orphan at the age of twelve years, but being 
determined to obtain an education, he at once set about the 
work of procuring the means to accomplish his purpose. He 
quite early qualified himself for a teacher, and took charge of a 
high school at Farmington, which situation he creditably fi\\"6 
for six years, meantime pursuing a course of medical study. He 
graduated from the medical department of Dartmouth College 
in 1866, and commenced practising his profession in his native 
town. In 1881 he removed to Dover, N. H., in which city he 
continues to reside. He has an extensive and lucrative practice, 
is a member of several medical societies, and in 1890 was elected 
Mayor of Dover. 

Samuel Sewall Parker, son of the first Henry Rust Parker, 
married Jane Cate. Their children were: Charles Franklin, 
born Sept. 2, 1828, married Lizzie Boyd, was cashier of Lake 
Bank, and has held other responsible social and official positions, 
was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday-school many 
years, and is a deacon of the Congregational Church ; Harey 
Stanley Sewail, born Feb. 18, 1832, married Hester Stevens ; 
John William, born May 2, 1840, married Abbie Haley ; Samuel 
Woodbury, born Nov. 18, 1843, proprietor of Grand Pacific 
Hotel, Chicago. 

Following are the children of Deering Stoddard, who married 
Elisabeth, daughter of Col. Henry Rust: Loving, born Apr. 5, 
1787, married Fanny Goldsmith, died Jan. 12, 1809; Nancy, born 
Nov. 5, 1789, married Jonathan Hilton; Deering, born Feb. 3, 
1791, died Dec. 12, 1802; Elizabeth, born Apr. 7, 1793, died Feb. 
2, 1812; Sally, born June 21, 1795, married James Chamberlain, 
died Oct. 29, 1828; Hannah, born Feb. 22, 1797, married Jona- 




DR. HENRY R. PARKER 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 453 

than Copp and James Buzzell ; Obadiah, born Aug. 9, 1799, 
married Sally Eaton; Martha, born Dec. 2, 1801, died Dec. 4, 
1802. 

John H. Rust's children are : Carrie, born Nov. 30, i860, 
married Henry W. Chase; Etta, born Dec. 25, 1862; George, 
born March 19, 1865, married Louise V. Prescott, of Peabody, 
Mass. ; Horace, born Nov. 30, 1867, married Edith Brown. 

Albert Bloomfield Rust has been a useful citizen. He has 
served for nine years most acceptably on the school board, has 
acted as presiding officer of many public gatherings, and has 
taken a keen interest in historical matters relating to his native 
town. His only daughter, Josephine, married, 1899, Harry M. 
Bickford. of Wolfeborough. 

In this connection, the only other Parker family living in town 
may be considered, although they have no relationship with the 
before mentioned branch. 

Benjamin Franklin Parker, son of Samuel Gridley Parker, of 
Boston, Mass., and Sarah Thurston Kelly, of Stratham, was bom 
in Stratham, Apr. 21, 1817. He came to Wolfeborough in 1831, 
and was up to the time of his death. Dec. 30, 1900, a resident of 
the town. July, 1850, he married Harriet B. Whitton, daughter 
of Daniel Whitton, who was born Feb. 10, 183 1. His children 
are: Sarah Elizabeth, born Apr. 25, 1852, died Aug. 19, 1869; 
Harriet Eva, born Aug. 30, 1854; Frank Sumner, born Jan. 8, 
1857, married Annie I. Warren ; Charles Whitton, born Feb. 24, 
1859, died Sept. 30, 1861 ; Abbie Blaisdell, born July 27, 1861 ; 
Vilette Maud, born March 19, 1866, married Hoyt H. Tucker, 
of Athens, Me. ; Bert Wiggin, born Jan. 29, 1871 ; Grace 
Manning, born Jan. 29, 1876. 

Charles Henry Parker, brother of Benjamin, came to Wolfe- 
borough in 1833. He afterwards spent several years in New- 
market. Coming to this town after his marriage, he became 
editor of the "Granite State News," which he conducted up to 
the time of his death in 1894. He married, Sept. 19, 1849, Sophia 



454 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



B. Blaisdell, of Middleton, who was born Sept. 2, 1829. His 
children are : Mary Abbie, born Feb. 25, 185 1, married Frederick 
W. Prindle, has one daughter, Ada Bernice ; Frances Ann, born 
Dec. 6, 1853, married George F. Mathes, has one son, Charles 
Albert ; Alice S., bom Feb. 12, 1856, married Charles C. Thomp- 
son ; Nettie, born May 13, i860, married Edwin L. Furber, died 
Dec. 28, 1893, leaving one daughter, Alice May. 

Israel B. Manning, a son of the Sarah Thurston Parker before 
mentioned and Ephriam Manning, was bom in Newmarket in 
1832. He came to Wolfeborough in 1854, and has been since 
that time engaged in mercantile pursuits. He married Annah 
N. Newell, of this town, a daughter of John Newell. Mr. Man- 
ning has had an active hand in the town's affairs, having been 
twice chosen representative, twice supervisor, three times town 
treasurer, four times a water commissioner, and twice moderator. 
As a member of the committee appointed to construct the town's 
water system, he was perhaps more responsible than any other 
man for the selection of the Beech Pond supply, a choice that 
experience has shown to be a wise one. 

Joseph K. Manning, a brother of Israel, was for some years 
interested in the manufacture and retailing of shoes here. 

George K. Manning, another brother, lived here, as a boy, with 
Daniel Whitton, Isaac Wiggin, and James Estes. He returned to 
the town late in life, and died here Jan. 12, 1900. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Newspapers — Carroll County Republican established at 
South Wolfeborough — Carroll County Pioneer 
— Carroll County Register — Granite State News 
— Carroll County Democrat — Sketch of Charles 
H. Parker — Lawyers and Doctors — Brief Sketch- 
es OF Men Famous in these Callings — "Squire" 
Batchelder — Charles F. Hill — William Fox — Sew- 
all W. Abbott — Doctors Cutter, McNorton, Hall 
Tebbetts, Pattee, and King. 

SOUTH Wolfeborough was the scene of many importarl 
events connected with the early history of the town, and 
here was established the first newspaper published in the county, 
in January Junot J. Whitehouse was the editor, and the 
paper was the "Carroll County Republican." It was a four-page, 
six-column sheet, with considerable legal and other advertising. 
and was well conducted, but, like so many other ventures of this 
kind, it had but a short existence. In politics it was democratic, 
although it favored the abolition of slavery. Possibly this — for 
the times — anomalous policy had something to do with its early 
den.ise. 

January, 1856, saw another eflfort to establish a journal. John 
F. Roberts, a printer with experience in Boston and New York 
offices, gave to the world the "Carroll County Pio- 
neer." The office was in what was then, as now, 
known as the bank building. The "Pioneer" was con- 
ducted along practically the same lines as its predecessor, 
except that it was republican in politics. Mr. Roberts was an 
excellent printer, a hard-working, honest man of fair ability, and 
in spite of many obstacles, issued the paper until March, 1858, 

455 



456 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



when he sold out to D. Warren Furber. Mr. Furber continued 
the publication some months, and then removed to Rochester. 

Mr. Roberts had meanwhile established a job office at Ossipee, 
and in May, 1859, began the publication of the "Carroll County 
Register," which he published for nearly six years. 

The "Granite State News" was started by James R. Newell, 
who had not then arrived at his majority, November i, i860, and 
was printed on a second-hand press, then over fifty years old. 
The "News" was first a six-column paper issued weekly, "at $1.00 
per year, in advance, or $1.25 if paid within the year." In his 
"Introductory" Mr. Newell said: "It will be the aim of the 
publisher to make the 'News' a family paper — one which will 
be entertaining to all. We shall devote particular attention to 
the collection and publication of items of local news, in order 
that persons who formerly resided in this vicinity, and who have 
removed to other places, may, by subscribing to the 'News,' be 
kept informed of everything of interest that transpires in the 
neighborhood of their former homes." 

Mr. Newell edited and personally conducted the paper until 
Dec. 5, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Co. I, 8th N. H. 
Volunteers, and left his business in charge of Charles H. Parker. 
Mr. Newell was the only person in the office who had a com- 
petent knowledge of the printing business, and his successor 
soon found his position anything but a sinecure. With a small 
subscription list, an office wanting in almost everything in the 
way of material, to say nothing of skilled workmen, with little 
advertising and less job custom, the price of stock and wages 
constantly increasing, it was, perhaps, as well that the new pub- 
lisher was uninformed as to the requirements of a successful 
printing and newspaper business. White paper, as an example, 
during war times rose in price from nine to as high as thirty-two 
cents per pound. The profit on the low basis of subscription 
would be purely imaginary. 

After four years, Mr. Newell, despairing of making the paper 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 457 

self-sustaining, decided to sell if possible ; if not, to discontinue. 
It was in the midst of the second Lincoln campaign, and Mr. 
Parker, thinking it would not do for the story to get about that 
a republican paper had died for want of support in such a crisis, 
purchased the establishment, increased the subscription to $1.50 
per year, and bought the list of the "Carroll County Record." 
By putting in sixteen hours work each day himself and making 
typos of his girls when they should have been in the schoolroom, 
seven years was added to the life of the paper. 

Meanwhile, some prominent democrats conceived the idea 
that it was necessary to establish an organ of their political faith, 
and guaranteed Elijah Couillard five hundred dollars in cash and 
a subscription list of five hundred names, if he would start such 
a paper. As a result, the "Carroll County Democrat" was brought 
forth, which ran two or three years and died of starvation. Since 
then, the "News" has had possession of the local field. 

In 1872 the publisher of the "News" enlarged the paper to 
seven columns per page, and with the assistance of a friend pur- 
chased a Fairhaven power press. Before this purchase there had 
been but one press in the office for all purposes. This was the 
old "patent lever" purchased by Mr. Newell, which was used in 
the office until destroyed by the fire of May, 1899. This press 
was built in 1804. In December, 1879, Mr. Parker still further 
enlarged the "News" to its present size. New presses and ma- 
terial were added from time to time until a well-equipped office 
had been established. 

Some fifteen years ago the office was removed from the bank 
building — after a small fire — to the B. & M. railroad building 
near the wharf, and since that structure was destroyed by fire, 
has been located at the Durgin building on North Main Street. 

Associated with Messrs. Parker and Newell in the early man- 
agement of the paper, were I. B. Manning and Burley B. Newell, 
a brother of the editor. B. F. Parker did much to increase the 
original subscription list. Since the death of Charles H. Parker 



458 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



in 1894, the paper has been conducted by Frederick W. Prindle, 
Mr. Parker's son-in-law, who had for some eighteen years been 
associated with him in the mechanical department. Mr. Prindle 
disposed of the paper in 1896 to Ethelbert Baier, of Washington, 
D. C, but after a few months again came into possession of the 
property. In 1899 a stock company was formed, with Mr. Prindle 
as manager. The present office is well-equipped in all depart- 
ments, and the "Granite State News" is now an institution in 
the town and an influence throughout the country. 

Charles Henry Parker, for many years editor of the "Granite 
State News," deserves more than passing mention. He was one 
of the old school of self-educated scholars, and from his earliest 
boyhood had to depend entirely upon his own unaided efforts. 
Mr. Parker was born in Portsmouth, May 26, 18 19. When only 
seven years of age, he was "bound" to a farmer for seven years, 
but broke away at the age of eleven, continuing, however, to 
work on farms until he was seventeen. In 1831 he came to 
Wolfeborough, but, desiring to be near his mother, who needed 
his aid, he went to Newmarket and became an operative in a 
cotton factory. Up to this time his opportunities for learning had 
been most meagre, but he now began to employ his spare mo- 
ments in securing an education. He rapidly became proficient 
in the common and high school branches of study then taught, 
and after some hesitancy accepted a position oflfered him as 
teacher in a back district school in Lee. He succeeded so well 
that he opened a private school in Newmarket, and was soon 
induced to take charge of one of the village schools. This school 
he taught for twenty-one terms in the same room. He then 
taught three terms in Searsport, Me., and, coming again to Wolfe- 
borough, taught several terms here. Many well-known men were 
pupils of his in the "Old Brick Schoolhouse." 

For some time his principal business in Wolfeborough was 
official. He was deputy-sheriff eight years, was high sheriff five 
years, and was twice sent to the legislature. In i860, at Mr. 




CHARLES H. PARKER 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVOH. 459 

Newell's request, he took charge of his paper until a permanent 
editor was secured. For nearly thirty-five years he wielded the 
editorial pen. 

Under his management the "News" was always aggressive in 
the advocacy of the right as he saw it. He did not always take 
the popular side of questions, perhaps not always the right side, 
but no one who knew him ever questioned his motive. Originally 
a democrat, he was one of the few who organized the Liberal — 
the first anti-slavery — party in this state. He afterwards acted 
with the Free-soil and republican parties, being a strong follower 
of the latter up to the time of his death. He was a Free Mason, 
an Odd Fellow, a Unitarian, and first, last, and all the time, 
a temperance worker. 

Mr. Parker possessed abilities that would, under more favor- 
able circumstances, have given him a more than local or even 
state reputation. It was easier for him to be honest than to 
court popularity. He did much in his day for the social and 
moral uplifting of the community in which his lot was cast. 

LAWYERS. 

Wolfeborough has had in its day a goodly number of able 
lawyers. It is no reflection upon those of the present generation 
to consider the following as the bright and particular stars of 
the town's legal firmament. 

Zachariah, or "Squire," Batchelder, as he was popularly desig- 
nated, was one of the marked men of his time. He was born in 
Beverly, Mass., in 1795, but came with his parents to Sunapee 
at an early age. He graduated at Dartmouth, and after some 
years spent in teaching and the study of law, came to Wolfe- 
borough and established himself in his profession. It had been 
his cherished hope to enter the ministry, but as time passed, and 
he gained more definite views of the clerical office, his natural 
diffidence and self-distrust led him to conclude that he was better 



460 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

adapted to some other profession. Mr. Batchelder was highly 
educated and was a close student of the classics throughout his 
life. His attainments as a lawyer were of the first order. He 
was, in fact, the scholar of the county. His influence was far 
beyond the duties of his profession. He was a vigorous debater, 
and the few surviving members of the "old lyceum" will remem- 
ber the occasion upon which he so sorely worsted young Henry 
Wilson that the future vice-president burst into tears. He lived 
a bachelor all his life and was noted for certain eccentricities in 
dress and manner, but his mind "a glorious kingdom was." 

Joseph Farrar, a native of Vermont, came to Wolfeborough 
from Chelsea, Mass., where he had been admitted to practice. 
He was here early in the century, and after the construction of 
the Pickering store had his office in that building. He is remem- 
bered as a man of middle height and old-time courtesy of man- 
ner, and if he was less scholastic than Batchelder, was safe in 
counsel and well-posted in statute and common law. He was 
a doughty antagonist in court and with Mr. Batchelder controlled 
the legal practice of this part of the county for a long time. 

Charles F. Hill was a native of Limerick, Maine. He read 
law with his uncle, Joshua Hill, of Frankfort, and practised a few 
years at Searsport. He then came to Wolfeborough and estab- 
lished a lucrative practice and was a leading member of the Car- 
roll County bar. He went to New Jersey some thirty years ago, 
and for many years had a law office in New York City. He 
died in Newark in 1889, aged sixty-seven years. He was "a 
lawyer of marked ability, a convincing and able advocate, and 
a man of high personal and professional character," in the 
opinion of Hon. Joel Eastman. Mr. Hill married Lavinia, a 
sister of Benjamin F. and Charles H. Parker, and his three 
children, Charles E., Frank, and Helen (Mrs. A. Baxter Mer- 
win), were born here. Charles E. has been state representative 
from Newark and president of the city council. He is also a 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 461 

lawyer of reputation, and has associated with him his son, 
Charles G. 

William Copp Fox will go down in history as a poet, racon- 
teur, and nature lover rather than a lawyer, although he stood 
high in the legal profession. He was born in Wolfeborough, Dec. 
29, 1827, and lived here until his tragic death by drowning in 
1898. Mr. Fox was educated in the old Academy, Gilmanton, 
and Dartmouth, graduating from the college in 1852. He read 
law with Zachariah Batchelder and Josiah H. Hobbs, of Wake- 
field. He engaged in educational pursuits early in life, was prin- 
cipal of Wakefield Academy, and was two years school com- 
missioner of Canoll County. He has been president of the VV^olfe- 
borough Savmgs Bank and of the Carroll County Bar Associa- 
tion. He acquired an orange grove in Florida and for years 
spent his winters there. Mr. Fox had for years a large practice 
and stood high in his profession. He refused to devote himself 
wholly to the practice of law, however, and cultivated his love for 
higher literature. He was a wonderfully companionable man and 
had great conversational gifts. He was famous as a fisherman 
and hunter, and was well grounded in the history and legendary 
lore of the locality. No man had a keener sense of the beautiful 
in art, nature or language. 

Everett C. Banfield was a lawyer of legal attainments and 
scholarly tastes. He was at one time U. S. counsel in the revenue 
department at Washington. The latter portion of his life was 
spent in his native town of Wolfeborough, where he made his 
profession a secondary matter. He was elected state senator from 
this district and was frequently the spokesman for the town on 
public occasions. His family still make their home here. 

Many other lawyers have at different times made Wolfeborough 
their home. The late Judge of Probate, David H. Hill resided 
here at the time of his death. He was succeeded as Judge by 
Sewall W. Abbott, who is now in active practice in the town. Oscar 



462 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



L. Young, recently admitted to the bar, and Edward E. Gate are 
also practising here. James A. Edgerly, a prominent lawyer of 
Somersworth, is a native of the place. 

Sewall W. Abbott was bom in Tuftonborough, Aug. 11, 1859. 
At the age of six years his family removed to Center Ossipee and 
here he remained until the death of his father in 1872, when with 
his mother and a brother he moved to Chicago. He stayed west 
about a year and returning, attended school at the Pamworth 
high school and Hebron (Me.) academy, graduating from the 
latter institution in '78. He entered Colby University the same 
year, but circumstances prevented his completing the course. In 
1879 he entered the law office of Col. Samuel S. Quarks and took 
up telegraphy as a means of livelihood. For the three succeeding 
years he was employed on the northern division of the B. & M. 
railroad. In 1883 he graduated from the Union College Law 
School in Chicago and practiced law there about a year. He 
came to Wolfeborough in June, 1885, and soon opened an oflfice 
here, where he has since had a successful practice. He was ap- 
pointed Judge of Probate in 1889, succeeding the late David H. 
Hill. Judge Abbott is prominent in Masonic circles, having been 
Master of Morning Star lodge. District Grand Lecturer and Dis- 
trict Deputy Grand Master. He is a life member of the N. H. 
grand lodge. He is also connected with numerous other fra- 
ternal bodies. 

DOCTORS. 

Wolfeborough has, as a rule, been fortunate in its medical men. 
Some of them have become famous in this and more distant 
fields. 

Dr. A. R. Cutter, one of the proprietors, although residing in 
Portsmouth, was sometimes called professionally to the town. 
Mrs. Benjamin Blake (Molly Connor) possessed considerable 
medical skill, and became noted as an obstetrician, and practised 




HON. SEWALL W. ABBOTT 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 463 

in Wolfeborough and neighboring towns for many years in the 
early times. She was very successful, and is said to have been 
present at nearly one thousand births. Asa Adams came to 
Wolfeborough in 1798 and resided on Martin's Hill for several 
years in the house known as the Eaton house. He removed to 
Gorham, Maine. Dr. Moses Hoyt practised here from 1810 for 
a few years. John McNorton was in practice here from 1813 
to 1819. He resided in the north part of the town. He died 
about 18 19. Jedidiah Chapman practised medicine about the 
same time in the southwest part of the town. He removed to 
Tuftonborough in 1819, where he died in 1850. Dr. Chapman 
was succeeded by Asa Perkins, whose residence was near the 
site of the Glendon Hotel. Dr. Perkins remained but a short 
time. David T. Livy, from New Durham, was his successor in 
1820, and occupied the same house. Dr. Livy died in 1834. 
and was followed by Dr. Jeremiah F. Hall, who married his 
daughter Annette. Dr. Hall was here nearly thirty years, then 
removed to Portsmouth. About 1820 Thomas J. Tebbetts, from 
Brookfield, married a daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Allen, and 
commenced the business of physician at Dimon's Corner. Here 
he remained during his life, practising his profession, managing 
a farm, doing considerable public business, and was several times 
elected to the offices of selectman and representative. He had 
a large family. Several sons have been druggists ; one a physician. 
Joseph Edgerly, a native of New Durham, practised medicine 
in town for several years. He died in 1840. Dr. John L. Swiner- 
ton was here in 183 1 ; remaining but a few years. John L. Sar- 
gent practised here several years. About 1840 Dr. Cyrus Blais- 
dell established himself in town. After some years he removed 
to Maine, but returned and located in the northeasterly part of the 
town, where he practised a short time. Charles Warren, a native 
of Brookfield and a noted teacher of vocal music, followed Blais- 
dell. He was in town several years, and erected the house now 
occupied by Joseph L. Avery. During his residence here Moses 



464 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



R. Warren removed from Middleton to Wolfeborough, remained 
some years. Luther Pattee came from Rockingham County 
about i860, and while on the high tide of popular practice left 
for Manchester. In 1866 Dr. Abiel Eliot practised here but after- 
wards went to Philadelphia. Chase Moulton practised medicine 
from i860 to 1870, perhaps longer. In 1865 Jeremiah R. Smith, 
from Vermont, settled here ; practised a few years. 

The late Jeremiah Forrest Hall, M. D., who was for 26 years 
a prominent physician of Carroll County, was born at North- 
field, N. H., December 2, 1816. Graduating from Dartmouth 
Medical College in 1837, at the age of 21, he went at once to 
Wolfeborough, N. H., to practice medicine. He succeeded to the 
practice of Dr. David Thurstin Livy, then recently deceased, and 
whose daughter, Annette Augusta, he married on Dec. 14, 1837. 
For many years Dr. Hall resided at the Livy home, upon the site 
now occupied by Hobbs' Inn, and the fine old elms in front of that 
hostelry were set out by Dr. Hall. About 1856 he built the house 
now occupied by Charles F. Parker, and this was the family home 
until the death of his wife in 1865. In 1862 he was commissioned 
surgeon of the 15th N. H. Vols, and went with his Regt. to 
New Orleans. In 1863 he was appointed surgeon of the 
Board of Enrollment for the ist. N. H. Cong. Dist. at Ports- 
mouth, N. H. At the close of the war he entered upon the 
practise of his profession at Portsmouth, and resided there until 
his death, on March i, 1888, aged 71 years 3 months. He prac- 
tised medicine and surgery for nearly half a century, and was 
prominent in his profession and in poHtical, business and banking 
circles. He was an astute financier, and was President of the 
Ports, Trust & Guar. Co. For twelve years he was a trustee of the 
New Hampshire State Insane Asylum. Was President of the 
New Hampshire State Med. Soc'y in 1872; served two years in 
the New Hampshire State Senate and held many other positions 
of honor and trust. 

Dr. Hall was a man of fine presence and strong personality ; 




DR. JEREMIAH F. HALL 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



465 



a man of great industry, strict integrity and business capacity, 
and was noted for his quick wit and sound philosophy. He was 
survived by his three children, all born at Wolfeborough : Susan 
Parsons Blount, who now resides atWellesley, Mass. ; Henry For- 
rest Hall, M. D., who died at Coronado, Calif., in 1897; and Ed- 
ward Hayden Hall, who resides at Fort Collins, Colo. 

He was married the second time on October 24, 1872, to 
Frances E. Laighton of Portsmouth, who also survives him, and 
now resides at Cambridge, Mass. 

Dr. Henry Rust Parker, son of John T. and Sally (Seavey) 
Parker, was born in Wolfeborough, January 24, 1836. He 
studied medicine with Dr. Pattee ; attended medical lectures at 
Dartmouth, graduated in 1865, commenced practice in his native 
town, and became a successful and popular physician. In 1881 
he removed to Dover. 

Dr. R. H. King, one of Wolfeborough's most widely known 
and respected men, was born in Wakefield, September 26, 182 1. 
He took the classical course at Philips Academy, Andover, 
Mass., in 1840 and 1844. He read with Dr George B. Garland, 
of Lawrence, Mass., and Dr. J, F. Hall, of Wolfeborough, and 
attended the old Tremont Medical School of Boston at the sum- 
mer term of 1845, and was graduated with honor from Bowdoin 
Medical College, Brunswick, Maine. He commenced practice 
in Kittery, Maine, in 1847, and remained there about seven years, 
when he went to Newton, Mass., and subsequently to Newark, 
N. J. Dr. King located in Wolfeborough in i860, where he 
soon obtained an extensive practice, and is known, both in and 
out of the profession, as a genial gentleman, a skilful physician 
and surgeon, eminently successful in practice. He is a member 
of the Carroll County Medical Society, has held the office of 
examining surgeon from 1868 to 1884, and has been reappointed 
in recent years. He is a republican in politics. Episcopalian in 
religious preference, but does not belong to any church, and is 
a member of the First Unitarian Society of Wolfeborough. 



466 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Dr. N. Harvey Scott, son of Nathaniel and Margaret (Har- 
riman) Scott was born in Dalton, March i6, 185 1, fitted for 
college at Lancaster and Gorham, Maine ; entered the academical 
department of Dartmouth College in 1874; studied medicine 
with Dr. Albert Winch, of Whitefield, and Dr. J. L. Harriman, 
of Hudson, Mass. Attending medical lectures at Burlington, 
Vermont, and Brunswick, Maine, he was graduated at the latter 
school in 1874; then took a course of lectures at College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, New York ; commenced practice at 
Sandwich in 1875, removed to Maynard, Mass., in 1877, and 
in 1880 located at Wolfeborough. He was appointed United 
States examiner of pensions in President Arthur's administration. 
He married Lizzie, daughter of Daniel Moulton, of Sandwich, 
and has six children. Dr. Scott is an active member of various 
societies — Masons, Odd Fellows, etc., and is a deacon of the 
Congregationalist Church and a trustee of Brewster Free 
Academy. 

Dr. Herman L Berry, born in New Durham, December 7, 1855, 
studied with Dr. Parker, of Farmington, attended medical lectures 
at Dartmouth and Brunswick, and received his degree of M. D. 
at the Pulty Medical School, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 
1875. He began practice in Farmington, removed to Lynn, 
then to Acton, Maine, and in 1884 came to Wolfeboroug*h where 
he now is in active practice. 

Dr. S. P. Getchell, a physician and surgeon of reputation, 
came to Wolfeborough from Maiden, Mass., in 1897. He served 
as surgeon during the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in a Maine 
regiment from Portland, where he was then established. He is an 
authority on the history of the war, and is a gentleman of wide 
culture. 

Dr. Curtis B. Cotton began the practice of medicine in Wolfe- 
borough some twelve years ago. He acquired hisi medical edu- 
cation at Johns Hopkins and other well-known schools and has 
a wide practice. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



467 



Dr. Edwin H. Thompson acquired his medical education at 
Dartmouth and Bowdoin Medical Schools, the New York Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York Post Grad- 
uate School. He confines himself to office practice. 

Dr. H. W. Bradford, a prominent eye speciaHst, has made his 
home here for the past two or three years, but has not been in 
active practice on account of poor health. Dr. G. H. Clough 
is also a practising oculist. 

Dr. Oliver Dowling has practised dentistry here for many 
years and has had a somewhat active hand in the town's affairs. 
He is prominent in fraternal circles. Dr. Frederick E. Meader, 
a native of the town and a graduate of Harvard Dental School, 
divides his time between Wolfeborough and his Boston office. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Mills and Manufacturing — The Old Taverns — The Newer 
Summer Hotels — Banks — Early Stores and Traders. 

A GRISTMILL was erected on Smith's River as early as the 
spring of 1771. This was done by A. R. Cutter and David 
Sewall. Probably George Meserve built a sawmill on the same 
stream in 1769. Cutter and Sewall no doubt improved the 
sawmill. They were sole or part owners of these mills for many 
years. The mills have been repeatedly remodeled or rebuilt. 
Among the owners have been William Kent, Joseph Kent, Na- 
thaniel Rogers, James Rogers, Stephen and Daniel Pickering, John 
M. Brackett, William Thompson, Moses Thompson, Blake Fol- 
som, George W. Hersey, Winthrop D. Hersey, Luther G. Gate, 
William C. Thompson, Frank E. Hersey, Fred E. Hersey, Mrs. 
E. G. Colby, Mrs. I. C. Thompson, and the O. P. Berry Company. 
The first person who had charge of the gristmill was Thomas 
Piper. John Lucas, Charles Stackpole, Elisha Goodwin, Isaac 
C. Thompson, John Patterson, and Roscoe M. Flanders have 
been millers. At the same falls are situated the piano-stool fac- 
tory of the late Lorenzo Home. 

Existing debris shows that there was once a sawmill on the 
Wentworth farm. A few years after the settlement, Jonathan 
Lary built a sawmill on the largest tributary of Lake Weut- 
worth. It was first known as Lary's, then Triggs', and now 
as Willey's mill. In 1818 nineteen farmers jointly built a saw- 
mill higher up on the same stream, called at first the Tebbetts' 
and afterwards the Isaac Willey mill. At the same place Dudley 
Hardy had a small gristmill. On this same stream, which is 
the outlet of Batson's Pond, there was also at one time a tannery, 

owned by Hezekiah Willand, and a shop with machinery, owned 
468 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 469 

by Nathaniel Frost. Now Willey's mill alone utilizes its water- 
power. 

On the Rye-Field Brook Dudley Chamberlin once had a corn- 
mill. William Kent and James Hersey erected a sawmill on 
the stream which is the outlet of Sargeant's Pond, now known 
as the Hersey Brook. This mill was afterwards rebuilt by George 
W. Hersey. On the same stream John Lucas had a small grist- 
mill. It was located near the present site of the farmhouse oc- 
cupied by George Tyler. William Kent built a sawmill on the 
Harvey Brook, which was subsequently removed to Smith's 
River upper falls by Paul H. Varney, who erected in 1816 a 
woolen factory. This was burned in 1841. On its site Charles 
and Moses R. Warren erected a starch factory, which continued 
in operation but a few years. There was also a tannery here. 

The fall of water on Mink Brook, the outlet of Rust's Pond 
at South Wolfeborough, exceeds sixty feet, and at different times 
there has been considerable machinery on the stream : a gristmill, 
a sawmill, a shingle-mill, a chair factory, a pipe factory, a wool- 
carding and cloth-dressing establishment, a tannery, a foundry, 
and a woolen factory. A large portion of this property has 
been destroyed by fire. The whole of this water-power is not now 
used. The South Wolfeborough Blanket and Flannel Manufac- 
turing Company was incorporated in 1861. The name of the 
corporation was afterwards changed to the Wolfeborough Woolen 
Mills. The factory building is leased by Charles W. Springfield, 
successor to I. W. Springfield, who employs seventy-five help, 
and makes forty thousand blankets annually. Mr. I. W. Spring- 
field ran this mill from 1854 to January, 1900. Several small 
establishments are located on other streams, and there have also 
been small tanneries and brick-yards in various localities. 

The Steam Mill Company, established in 185 1 by Moses and 
Augustus Varney, Alpheus Swett, and Benjamin Morrison, be- 
came in 1865 the property of Libbey, Varney & Co. (Alvah S. 
Libbey, Augustus J. Varney, and Alonzo Thompson). Some 



470 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



ten years ago Mr. Thompson retired from the firm, and upon 
the death of Mr. Libbey in 1896, the business was purchased 
by his two sons, Frederick S. and Edward J. Libbey. Two 
years ago the property came into the possession of Messrs. 
Stephen W. Clow and Charles F. Piper. The firm manufactures 
sawed lumber and box shook, and employs thirty men. 

Hersey Bros., whose names appear as former owners of the 
mills at the falls, upon disposing of their plant to the O. P. 
Berry Company, built a well-equipped mill a short distance away. 
Here they manufacture finish and building material, and have 
recently erected many summer cottages by contract. They em- 
ploy about twelve men. 

The O. P. Berry Company operate an extensive excelsior plant 
and manufacture large quantities of oak handles of various discrip- 
tions. The firm consists of Oliver P., George W., Hosea G., 
and Albert O. Berry. The firm employs some fifteen men. 

Frank Hutchins has for the past fifteen years done a large 
excelsior business and has more recently added a leather board 
mill to his plant. The leather board mill is at the lower falls, 
and a newly constructed dam farther up stream furnishes power 
for a well-equipped excelsior plant. Mr. Hutchins employs fifteen 
men. 

The Lake Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company was in- 
corporated in 1873. Its capital was limited to one hundred thou- 
sand dollars by the charter and fixed at forty thousand dollars. 
This concern did a large business for several years. The incor- 
porators were John M. Brackett, Moses Thompson, C. W. 
Thurston, C. H. Hersey, C. P. Hasty, Isaiah Wiggin, Charles 
S. Paris, Charles H. Parker, William B. Rendall, Alex. H. Dur- 
gin, Joshua B. Haines, I. B. Manning, Moses T. Gate, and John 
G. Gate. 

The first tanner was Moses Varney. He began business near 
the site of the present bank building, but afterwards removed 
to the place where the Varney tannery now stands, not far from 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



4/1 



Friend Street. This Moses was succeeded in turn by his son, 
Joseph, his grandson, Moses, and his great-grandson, WilHani. 
The property is now used for storage purposes. Another of the 
original Moses' grandsons, Joseph, has been a leather manufac- 
turer for many years. For several years he had as a partner 
his son-in-law, George F. Symonds. The plant was located on 
the lake shore and has been recently purchased by the Boston 
Excelsior Company. 

The Wolfeborough Steam Power Company was incorporated 
August 4, 1883, to build a shoe factory. A building was erected 
in 1884 at an expense of thirty thousand dollars. It was intended 
for two establishments, and was four stories high, with a length 
of two hundred feet and a width of thirty-six, having two L's 
thirty-six by seventy-five feet. J. M. Cropley & Bro. and F. 
W. and I. M. Monroe, shoe manufacturers of Marblehead, Mass., 
became occupants. After the fire which destroyed it in 1887, 
the property of the Steam Power Company was transferred to 
the Wolfeborough Construction Company. This company put 
up a similar building on the same site, which is now occupied by 
Spalding & Swett, who came from Haverhill, Mass. 

About 1 78 1 William Cotton opened a store at the present 
residence of Albert Cotton. The old storeroom is now a part 
of the family kitchen. Samuel Dimon, previous to 1800, com- 
menced trade at Dimon's Corner (now North Wolfeborough). 
Dimon also kept tavern. A few years afterward he was succeeded 
by Aaron Roberts, who remained in business as a merchant and 
tailor a long time. Pierce L. and Brackett Wiggin, brothers, 
and Augustine D. Avery also had stores there. Roberts was 
succeeded by Hersey & Coleman, and they by George J. Burke. 
Hezekiah Willand and son, Arthur J. Willand. have been en- 
gaged in merchandising there for several years. There have been 
small stores at Wolfeborough Centre at different times. 

The first store at Wolfeborough Falls was opened by Nathaniel 
Rogers. He may have been succeeded by William Thompson. 



472 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

In 1848 Parker & Wiggin commenced trade, and with their suc- 
cessor, H. B. Parker, continued the business more than thirty- 
years. Hodge & Heath and Joseph P. Heath sold goods for a 
score of years or more. Colonel Jonathan Copp had a store in 
early time at Rendall's Corner. John W. Home traded there 
for a time. In later years, one Langley was the local merchant. 
Bradstreet Doe came to town in 1810, purchased a small farm 
near Rendall's Corner, where he manufactured hats until the 
business became unprofitable. 

The first trader at South Wolfeborough was one of the Rust 
family, Henry B. Henry Rust Parker was in trade there quite 
early. Henry B. Rust continued the longest time in mercantile 
business. John W. Avery and several others have dealt in mer- 
chandise there. 

The first store at Smith's bridge was built by Andrew Jewett. 
William Rogers came soon after. John L. Piper commenced 
trade early, followed by Piper & Avery. Richard Rust was an 
early trader here ; he was succeeded by his son Thomas, and 
he by Rust & Farrar. Smith & Crosby were also merchants, as 
was James Pike, and later, John Barker, Oilman Cooper, and 
many more. The persons who continued in trade the longest 
were Daniel Pickering and Samuel Avery. Mr. Pickering com- 
menced business in the building since known as the Manning 
House. About 1830 he built a large store at Pickering's Corner. 
He was the largest dealer in town. Mr. Avery erected the store 
until recently occupied by Almon Eaton, about 1824. 

Taverns were quite common, but rather small affairs in the 
early settlement. John Sinclair is said to have had the first. 
On the main road at different times taverns were kept by James 
Connor, Widow Evans, and others. In 1795 Andrew Jowett 
built an inn at the Bridge village ; this was a one-story building, 
forty feet in length. After Jewett's death, Richard Rust took 
his Vt'idow and the tavern ; he added one story to the house, and 
at his demise was succeeded bv his son Thomas, and he in turn 




< 
IXl 
I- 
10 
Ul 

o 



LU 

(J 

Q. 



o 

a: 



< 

X 

o 

(/) 
q: 



O 

LU 
(J 

z 

UJ 
Q 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUan. 



473 



by several others. Tt was once called "J^wett's" then "Rust's 
Tavern/' was for several years the Lake Hotel, and is now the 
Sheridan House, W. E. Wiggin, proprietor. This was for some 
years the principal tavern in that part of the town. John Picker- 
ing for some years kept a public house, occupying the premises 
now owned by his niece, Mrs. Charles Rollins. 

Captain Moses Brown opened a tavern near the close of the 
last century, on Brown's Ridge. It being situated on one of the 
principal thoroughfares in the easterly part of New Hampshire, 
he did a flourishing business, and at his death he left to each 
of his several sons three thousand dollars. The business and 
thrift of the establishment continued under the management of 
his widow, who was an energetic woman. One son, Adam, ac- 
cumulated a large fortune. The old homestead is in the posses- 
sion of Mrs. F. P. Adams, daughter of Adam Brown. 

James Pike had a tavern near the present site of the Bank 
Building. Colonel Jonathan Copp kept tavern for many years 
in the large house at Rendall's Corner, now occupied by Mr. 
Rendall. A hotel was kept for some years at South Wolfe- 
borough, several different proprietors have had charge of it. 
The mill-house at Wolfeborough Falls was for years an "inn." 
In 1781 William Cotton set up a small tavern where his great- 
grandson, Albert Cotton, now resides. About the same time. 
William Glynn established one near where Harry Smith lives. 
Afterwards William Triggs had one at the David Chamberlain 
place. Thomas furnished "entertainment" near Dimon's Cor- 
ner, as did likewise some others. In 1807 Samuel Wiggin was 
an innkeeper. 

The Pavilion at Wolfeborough village was erected by a com- 
pany of citizens in 1849 or 1850. It was originated by Daniel 
Pickering, and built and furnished largely by him and his son- 
in-law, Charles Rollins. Daniel Chamberlain was the first pro- 
prietor, and gave it a valuable reputation as a summer hotel. 
Large additions were made to it later, and it accommodated two 



474 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

hundred and fifty guests. This building and lot finally came into 
the possession of Brewster Free Academy. The house was 
razed and the land graded and grassed. The only tangible evi- 
dence of the famous old hotel now in existence is the dilapidated 
porte cochere, now reposing near the corner of Lake Street. 
The name of the hotel was in recent years changed to Kings- 
wood Inn. 

The Glendon was built by John L. Peavey and C. W. Thurs- 
ton in 1874. It is one of the finest constructed hotels 
in the lake region, cost twenty-nine thousand dollars to build, 
and was opened for guests in 1874. In 1881 it passed into the 
ownership of the Carroll County Savings Bank. Afterwards 
it passed through the hands of several parties, and is now success- 
fully conducted as an all-the-year house by Frank P. Hobbs, 
under the name of Hobb's Inn. 

The Belvue House is the former dwelling-house of Oilman 
Cooper. Daniel Horn, son of James Horn, from Yarmouth, 
Maine, commenced hotel life in the Pavilion in 1855, took charge 
of the Winnipesaukee House at Alton for three years during 
the Civil War, purchased this house of W. H. Jones in October, 
1868, and opened it as a hotel. A lady boarder conversant with 
European life, named it the "Belvue." The house was enlarged 
in 1872 to accommodate seventy-five guests, was popularly known 
as "Horn's on the Lake," and commands a delightful view. 
Mr. Horn at the time of his death, was the oldest landlord, in 
point of service, in town. 

Summer Boarding-houses. — Glen Cottage, Levi Horn ; Lake 
View House, C. W. Oilman ; Hersey House, Mrs. W. D. Her- 
sey ; in the village. Meader Retreat, S. A. Meader ; Maple Cot- 
tage, J. L. Wiggin ; Piper's Farmhouse, J. W. Piper ; Stewart 
House, H B. Stewart ; Pebble Cottage, W. B. Fullerton ; on the 
main road to Tuftonborough. Fair View House, S. N. Furber ; 
in Pine Hill district. Highland Cottage, J. L. Goldsmith ; at the 
Highlands. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



475 



Wolfeborough Bank was organized under an act of incorpor- 
ation approved July 5, 1834, with a capital of one hundred thou- 
sand dollars. The stock was mostly owned by New York parties, 
although people of Dover were interested. The directors were 
Nathaniel Rogers, Samuel Avery, Joseph Hanson, John P. Hale, 
Daniel Pickering, John Williams, Thomas E. Sawyer. Daniel 
Pickering, was president ; Thomas E. Sawyer, cashier. 

A brick block was constructed for its occupancy near Picker- 
ing's Corner, and the strong vault built for it is still in use. 
Augustine D. Avery soon became cashier, and was succeeded 
by Thomas Rust. This bank went down in the financial reverses 
succeeding the panic of 1837. 

The Lake Bank was incorporated as a state banj< July 15, 
1854, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. The first board 
of directors was : John M. Brackett, Daniel Bassett, Jr., Jeremiah 
F. Hall, Eleazer D. Barker, George W. Hersey, George Rust, 
Thomas L. Whitton, J. M. Brackett, president ; Abel Haley, 
cashier. The bank began business in November, 1854, in the 
Wolfeborough Bank building, and did business there till January 
5, 1856, when a committee was appointed to purchase the four 
southerly rooms in the brick building near the steamboat land- 
ing. This was done and the bank removed there, where it was 
located until it closed its existence. There was no change in 
president or cashier from the first. 

The Lake National Bank, successor to the Lake Bank, char- 
tered for twenty years, was organized May 6, 1865, with a capital 
of seventy-five thousand dollars. Directors : John M. Brackett, 
George Rust, Moses Thompson, George W. Hersey, Aaron 
Roberts, Blake Folsom, Otis Evans, J. M. Brackett, president; 
Charles G. Tibbetts, cashier. In November, 1871, Charles F. 
Parker succeeded Mr. Tibbetts as cashier, and held the ofBce 
continuously until the dissolution of the bank. This was brought 
about principally through the machinations of one W. E. Jeweit, 



476 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROVGH. 



of Lawrence, Mass., who is now serving a sentence in states prison 
for illegal practices. 

The Carroll County Five Cents Savings Bank started out 
under good auspices and was well patronized. It was, however, 
closed up after some years of business at a loss to depositors. 

The Wolfeborough Savings Bank was organized July 12, 
1871. First officers, October 29, 1872: President, Stephen 
Durgin ; vice-president, Elisha Goodwin, Jr. ; treasurer, Joseph L. 
Avery; trustees, Addison W. Banfield, Jethro R. Furber, John 
W. Sanborn, Joseph H. Bickford, Charles G. Gate, Jacob F. 
Brown, Alphonzo H. Rust, William C. Fox, George W. Furber, 
William H. Jones, James H. Neal, Joshua B. Haines, John M. 
Emerson, Enos G. Whitehouse, Charles B. Edgerly, Joseph L. 
Avery. October 30, 1877, Ira Banfield was chosen vice-president 
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elisha Goodwin, Jr. 
February 16, 1878, Joseph L. Avery resigned the ofiflce of treas- 
urer, and Ira Banfield was chosen treasurer, holding the office 
until the bank's liquidation a few years since. 

The banking business of the town is now satisfactorily done 
by the Wolfeborough Loan and Banking Company, established 
in 1889. The bank carries on a general business, and has a capital 
stock of fifty thousand dollars. The present officers are John W. 
Sanborn, president ; John L. Peavey, vice-president ; Charles F. 
Piper, cashier; directors, John W. Sanborn, John L. Peavey, 
Charles H. Willey, James E. French, John H. Beacham, Albert 
O. Robinson, Robert H. Pike, Simon Blake, and Mayhew C. 
Clark. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

The Avery Family — Samuel Avery's Connection with the 
OldAcademy — Incidents inthe Life of Henry Wilson 
— Thompson Family — Huggins Family — Stevenson 
Family — Daniel Pickering, Wolfeborough's Leading 
Citizen — Charles Rollins — Thomas L. Whitton. 

JOSHUA AVERY was born in Stratham, October 23, 1740. 
His son Joshua came to Wolfeborough early in the century, 
went into trade in company with John L. Piper, and died here 
in 1805, aged twenty-nine years. In 1818 Samuel Avery, a son 
of the first Joshua, came to Wolfeborough. He purchased the 
lot now occupied by Augustine D. Avery. This land had pre- 
viously been owned by Samuel Leavitt, John L. Piper, Samuel 
Piper, and Joshua Avery in succession. 

Mr. Avery at once opened a store and carried on several in- 
dustries. He continued in trade until his death, which occurred 
October 5, 1858. He served five terms as town clerk and four 
terms as selectman. After the establishment of the Wolfe- 
borough and Tuftonborough Academy Mr. Avery was accustomed 
to board teachers and pupils, and many a lad was assisted in this 
way who would otherwise have found it difficult to obtain an 
education. Vice-President Henry Wilson was a member of his 
family while a student at that institution. It may not be amiss 
to notice here some facts in Wilson's early history which have 
not before been made public. 

In early life the future statesman had little oportunity for 
attending school, although he did have access to a good library 
owned by a gentleman in Farmington village, which was not 
very far distant from the farm on which he worked. After the 
severe labors of the day he was accustomed to spend his even- 

477 



478 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

ings in general reading, and thereby became quite well versed 
in history and some other subjects, but in such knowledge as 
is usually obtained in the schools he was very deficient. 

After closing the obligated term of service with the farmer 
with whom he had spent his youth, he went to Natick for the 
purpose of working at the brogan business. He remained there 
for some time, until he had earned a small sum of money. Hav- 
ing a desire to see the distinguished public men of the country, 
he visited the national capital and returned to New England 
fired with an ambition to be somebody himself. Soon after 
he came to Wolfeborough and spent some months at the 
Academy. The following winter he taught the district school 
at South Wolfeborough. 

The next season he concluded to attend a school at Concord, 
N. H. Having a little money on hand, he loaned a portion of 
it with an expectation of receiving it in season to meet his school 
expenses. When he required it for this purpose, it was not forth- 
coming. He, however, managed to square his account at Con- 
cord, and started for Farmington with a cash capital of ten cents. 

As he acquired knowledge he became the more impressed 
with the necessity of obtaining a more thorough education and 
determined to take a collegiate course, if he could obtain pecu- 
niary aid. For this purpose he visited several towns in Strafford 
County, but found no one willing to advance him money. He 
then came to Wolfeborough and presented his case to a few 
persons in the town, but received no encouragement. Finally he 
came to Samuel Avery. Mr. Avery asked him if he thought he 
would be able to earn money enough as he went through his 
course to purchase his clothes and books. Mr. Wilson gave 
an affirmative answer. "Then," said Mr. Avery, "go to my house 
and board until you are prepared to enter college, and I will see 
you through." This reply brought tears to the eyes of the grate- 
ful Wilson. 

Having previously made arrangements to take charge of a 




SAMUEL AVERY 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



479 



school for one term at Natick, he went to that place, expecting 
to return to Wolfeborough to enter upon a classical course of 
study. While there, however, a heated political campaign came 
on, and the speaking talents of the "Natick Cobbler" were 
brought into requisition. He was soon after elected a member 
of the Massachusetts legislature and continued to advance in pub- 
lic life until he died Vice-President of the United States. 

Although circumstances prevented Mr. Wilson from availing 
himself of Mr. Avery's kind ofifer, he ever remembered it, and 
kept up a close intimacy with the family. It may not be improper 
to say that although politics ran high at that time, Mr. Wilson was 
a flaming Whig and Mr. Avery a confirmed Democrat. 

Mr. Wilson was in great demand as a public speaker and when 
filling engagements within a reasonable distance of Wolfeborough 
always made his home with Mr. Avery. On one occasion, after 
he had been elected vice-president, he was visiting his old friend, 
and several prominent town's people took occasion to pay their 
respects to the then famous man. Sitting by the window, he 
looked out on the old Academy building, then standing just op- 
posite, and, overcome with a fiood of reminiscence, exclaimed in 
a broken voice, "All that I am, I owe to Mr. Avery. His en- 
couragement sustained me when I knew not which way to turn." 
The very chair he sat in now occupies the place it then had in 
Mr. Augustine Avery's sitting-room. 

To Samuel Avery more than any other man was due the estab- 
lishment of the old Academy. Two hundred shares of stock of 
ten dollars each were placed on sale. Only one hundred and fifty 
were sold, and after the building was erected and covered in, in- 
terest in the project flagged. Mr. Avery then purchased forty- 
three of the remaining fifty shares and proceeded to finish the 
hall and a schoolroom. New zeal was thereby aroused, and the 
Academy became at once a success. 

Mr. Avery's children were: Augustine D., bom Oct. i6, 1814; 
Joseph L.. born Jan. 12, 1817; Ann Eliza, born Nov. 25, 1819; 



48o 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



married Leander Thompson, who was for five years a missionary 
in Syria and has since held several pastorates in Massachusetts, 
died, Feb. 22, 1901. 

Augustine D. Avery has been a merchant and farmer. He has 
served as town clerk twice, county commissioner two years, and 
representative three times. Children: Mary E., born Nov. 16, 
1855, died young; Dudley L., born Aug. 11, 1857, drowned June 
24, 1874; Samuel A., born March 5, i860 died young; Samuel, 
born March 14, 1862 ; Belle, born March 27, 1866. 

Joseph L. Avery has been a merchant and farmer and has held 
the offices of town clerk and treasurer. He has also been treasurer 
of the Wolfeborough Savings Bank. Children : Joseph W., born 
Aug. 14, 1867, died young; Joseph C, born June i, 1874. 

Moses Thompson, who bore the same name as his father, came 
from Deerfield to Wolfeborough in 1800. His father had pre- 
viously taught school in town. He settled in what is now known 
as Pleasant Valley, then and for many years afterward called 
Raccoon-borough, possibly from Raccoon Hill in the old town 
of Deerfield. The settler Moses married Sally Fox and had 
seven children : Benjamin F., married Mary Brewster and Han- 
nah Wiggin (widow) ; William, married Nancy Rogers; Samuel, 
married Phoebe Rogers ; Hannah ; Moses, married Hannah 
Marble Rust ; Jane, married George Y. Furber ; Sarah, married 
John M. Brackett. 

Benjamin F. was one of the leading men of his time. He 
farmed somewhat extensively, was representative twice and 
selectman eight terms. His children, all by his first wife, were : 
Mark F., died in Dover ; Mary J., married Ivory Keniston ; Sarah 
E., married William Adams; Benjamin B,, resides in Phila- 
delphia ; John M., was a soldier in the Civil War and died at Har- 
wood hospital. 

William was a farmer and tanner. He also preached and prac- 
tised medicine. He possessed great energy and a powerful 
physique. His children were : Moses, died in the West ; Nathaniel 




MOSES THOMPSON 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 481 

T., died in Minneapolis ; William C, has been a hotel-keeper in 
Lynn and manager of the Glendon Hotel ; Mary, died at Helena, 
Montana ; Henry, hves West ; Samuel, died young. 

Samuel, son of Moses, was a farmer and mechanic. Hii chil- 
dren were Sarah, married John Tabor; Samuel, lives in Boston; 
Isaac, married Nellie Colby, Susan, married Charles H. Guptill; 
William ; Gertie, married John McGrath, of Boston, Mass. 

Moses Thompson 3rd was born March 4, 181 1. He remained 
with his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age. His 
education was gained at the district school, with a few terms at 
the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy. 

When he was of age he received five hundred dollars from his 
father, who earned and laid by that amount for each son. This 
money he invested in hides, which he tanned in a small tannery 
erected by himself and brother Benjamin on the farm. A portion 
of the leather he carried to Boston and sold, receiving his pay 
in money and hides. A portion of the hides he cut into shoes and 
hired made. These were perhaps the first shoes manufactured 
in Wolfeborough. Later he carried on a tannery at Wolfe- 
borough Falls for Daniel Pickering. In 1847 he moved to Wolfe- 
borough village and lived in a house standing on the lot now occu- 
pied by the residence of Mr. Blake Folsom. He entered the employ 
of Daniel Pickering as shoe cutter, and later a partnership was 
formed of Pickering, Brackett & Thompson for the manufacture 
of shoes. In connection with the shoe business they carried on 
a country store at Pickering's Comer. This partnership con- 
tinued until the death of Mr. Pickering. 

In 1856 Mr. Thompson, Capt. Augustus Walker, of Concord, 
and J. M. Brackett built the brick block known as the Bank 
Building. In this building, Thompson & Brackett manufactured 
brogan shoes for the Southern trade, and Mr. Thompson and 
George Rust carried on the grocery business. In this building 
was also located the State Bank and the Carroll County Five 
Cent Savings Bank, Mr. Thompson being trustee of each, also 



482 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

later the president. He was treasurer of the Lake Boot and Shoe 
Co. For several years he was engaged in the marble business, 
and later in the mill and lumber business. All through life he 
was successful in buying and selling real estate. Several of the 
most desirable lots on Main Street have passed through his hands. 
Later in life he laid out Pine Street. 

He was a representative and twice elected to the office of select- 
man. He was also connected with the commissary department 
in the late war. He was ever interested in the prosperity of his 
native town and especially that it should have good roads and 
excellent schools. For many years he was trustee of the Wolfe- 
borough and Tuftonborough Academy, also trustee of the Chris- 
tian Institute, and gave liberally towards its support. He became 
a Mason in 1856. He was baptized by Elder Mark Fernald in 
1839 and joined the Christian Church. 

May 7, 1840, Mr. Thompson married Hannah M. Rust, 
daughter of William Rust. Their children are: William Rust, 
born March 4, 1841, died May 24, 1865; Moses F., born May 
20, 1846, married Abbie H. Hersey, Dec. 28, 1870, died in Min- 
neapolis Jan. 23, 1890, left two sons, Lester H. and Dana M., 
now residing in Minneapolis ; Ella M., born March 20, 1847, 
married Henry R. Parker, they have two daughters and one son, 
deceased; Ada F., born Dec. 28, 1852, resides in Wolfeborough ; 
Alberta A., born July 13, 1854, died Dec. 20, i860; Fred A., born 
Aug. 20, 1857, resides in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Thompson 
died Dec. 11, 1897. 

Moses Thompson, the son of William, married Ruth Ann, the 
daughter of John Tappan Parker. He died in the West some 
three years since. His children were: Rolan P., born Jan. 6, 
1855, married Ellen M. Brown ; Charles C, born May 12, 1858, 
married AHce M. Parker; Reta B., born July 13, 1861, died 
young; Nellie N., born Dec. 13, 1867, married Fred R. Graves. 

The Fluggins family is of early Saxon origin, coming down 

through centuries in England, and members of it are frequently 




SAMUEL MUGGINS 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 483 

mentioned in connection with civic honors and positions of re- 
sponsibihty. The progenitor of the family in New Hampshire 
was Jolin Huggins, who came to Hampton in 1640. 

Samuel Huggins was of the third generation in this coimtry. 
His ancestors lived in Greenland, N. H., near what was called 
"The Parade," and what is still called "Huggins's Lane" was 
doubtless a part of the original farm. His father, John Huggins, 
moved from Greenland to Wakefield, and located near Huggins 
Brook as early as 1790. Here he made a home, having married 
Anna IMordough. of Wakefield. In early manhood Samuel went 
to Wenham, Mass., to superintend farm work. In 1817 he mar- 
ried Sally L. Wyatt, and they came to Wolfeborough to live, 
having bought what was known as the Deacon Wormwood farm 
in the east part of the town. He paid down one thousand dollars 
in silver that he had saved for the purpose. On this homestead 
their ten children were born, and here the parents lived, died, 
and were buried, the father reaching the age of nearly ninety-two 
vears. 

Samuel Huggins was a man of good physique, more than six 
feet tall and well proportioned. He was conservative by nature ; 
in politics he was a Whig in earlier life, voting that ticket when 
but nineteen Whig votes were cast in town. In later years he was 
a Republican. In religion he was a Methodist, and his home was 
always open to the circuit-rider as on horseback he went through 
the towns of Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough. One of the 
strongest characteristics of Mr. Huggins was his tenderness of 
heart. Not only the children but every animal on the farm knew 
this. Always careful and exact in his dealings, he was a thor- 
oughly honest man. 

Thiee of the sons, Nathaniel, John P., and Samuel J., have been 
successful hotel-keepers. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in New York 
City is owned by them. Elizabeth G. Huggins, their eldest 
daughter, married Charles Remick. Of their five children but 
one survives, Lydia F.. wife of Joseph W. Chadwick, of Maiden, 



484 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Mass. The two sons of Nathaniel Huggins were educated at 
Lafayette College. Of the grandchildren of Samuel Huggins but 
one other survives, Almon W. Eaton, of Wolfeborough. There 
are only three great-grandchildren, Grace E. Douglas of Ames- 
bury, Mass., and the two children of George L. Huggins of New 
York City. 

Of the ten children of Samuel Huggins there are now living, 
John P., of New York City, Samuel J., of New York City, Mrs. 
Sally A. Eaton, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Mary R. Martin, wife 
of James H. Martin, of Wolfeborough. 

John P. Huggins is a worthy example of the self-made man. 
He was born at Wolfeborough, May 2, 1826. He came to in- 
dustrious ancestors, and was a worker from very early years, as- 
sisting his father on the farm. He attended the district school 
winters, and had the advantage of Wolfeborough and Tufton- 
borough Academy for several terms. The common school of a 
few months in each year for the practical business life of New 
England in that period did its work well. At the age of eighteen 
Mr. Huggins went to Boston, where he remained one year as 
clerk at the Bromfield House, and returning to Wolfeborough 
was a pupil of the academy for six months. He was then at 
Dartmouth Hotel, Hanover, as clerk for one year. From there 
he went to Lowell, Mass., where he was with Henry Emory at the 
Merrimac House for two years as bookkeeper. In 1852 Mr. Hug- 
gins removed to New York City, where he has since been a resident 
and prominent man in many directions. He was at first employed 
as clerk in Lovejoy's Hotel on Park Row, but the following year 
he purchased the interest of the proprietors, Libbey & Whitney, 
and continued the hotel business there for twenty years satis- 
factorily and successfully. He then, with his brothers, Nathaniel 
and Samuel J., bought the property of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, 
corner of Chambers Street and West Broadway, and they have 
conducted it since that time. 

Mr. Huggins, however, has had other outlets for the exercise 




JO'-'N P. MUGGINS 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 485 

of his business acumen and financial ability, and many enterprises 
and undertakings have been promoted by his interest in them. 
He was at one time president of the Metropolitan Gas Light Com- 
pany, and for many years a director ; is now a director of the 
Consolidated Gas Light Company, also of several banks and 
savings institutions of New York City ; of the Citizens' Gas Light 
Company of Rochester, N. Y., and a director of the Lake National 
Bank of Wolfeborough, and at one time its vice-president. He 
has been on the board of education of New York City for more 
than thirty years. In all these manifold activities Mr. Huggins 
has shown a thorough adaptability and a remarkable discernment, 
and has proved himself a natural financier. Politically he has al- 
ways been a Republican. 

But there are other phases of Mr. Huggins' character worthy of 
record. The unostentatious manner in which he has used his 
wealth ; the warm interest he has ever manifested in his birth- 
place ; the patient industry that characterized his early manhood ; 
the persevering energy which he evinced when he entered upon 
active business life ; his kindness and affection in all his family 
relations, and the genial spirit of his social life have made him 
warm friends in the city of his adoption and the town of his 
nativity. One of the leading citizens of Wolfeborough says of 
him : "By honesty, industry, sobriety, and ability, backed by 
perseverance, he won his way step by step. He always mani- 
fested a great interest in adding to the comforts of the family, 
making large additions to the old homestead farm in the life- 
time of his parents, and never counting dollars or cents in im- 
proving and caring for the welfare of his sisters. He has marked 
financial ability and honesty, always despising trickery and fraud ; 
is a social, genial friend, plain and honest spoken, and an honor 
ot his native town." 

Joseph, the grandfather of Thomas Stevenson, came from 
Yorkshire, England, and settled on the Isles of Shoals. His son 
Joseph settled in Durham, where he married a wife who bore him 



486 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



two sons and two daughters. Upon her decease he married a 
widow who had two sons and two daughters by a former husband. 
The only symmetrical result of such a union (and one that actually 
came about) was that two sons and two daughters should be born. 
Thomas, the Wolfeborough settler, was one of this third crop of 
sons. When a young man, he came to Brookfield, where he 
taught school. He afterwards pursued the same vocation in 
Wolfeborough. He married, about 1800, Sarah Johnson, of 
Brookfield and settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, 
Albert J. Stevenson. He served as selectman and town clerk for 
several terms and was a useful citizen in various lines. 

His son Samuel, now the oldest man in town (aged nearly 
ninety-one years), has served as selectman, and his son James 
has held various town offices, 

Joseph, another son of Thomas, was a mason and farmer as is 
his son Albert J. Henry J., son of Joseph, is a prominent citizen 
of East Boston, following the business of contractor. He has 
represented his district in the Massachusetts Legislature. His 
family have a summer home on the old farm. 

William Goldsmith came from Salem, Mass., to work on the 
governor's farm. He settled on the Frost road. His son, Joshua 
H., had fifty acres of a nearby lot and here reared two children, 
John L., born October 24, 1826, who now occupies the farm now 
known as Goldsmith Heights, and Mary E., born January 18, 
1826, who married Ellis Upton, of Washington, D. C. Leavitt 
C, the only son of John L., lives with his father. 

Daniel Pickering, son of William and Abigail (Fabyan) Pick- 
ering, was born in Greenland, N. H., November 22, 1795, where 
his early life was passed. He acquired a good education at 
Brackett Academy in Greenland and Philips Exeter Academy. 
On arriving at maturity he came to Wolfeborough and im- 
mediately engaged in merchandising. He was very successful 
and soon erected the store at Pickering's Corner, continuing in 
business as a merchant for thirtv-five vears. At one time he had 




D4NI&L PICKERING 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 487 

three stores in active operation, that at Wolfeborough village, 
one at Goose Corner, and another at Tuftonborough. About 1840 
he formed a co-partnership with John M. Brackett, Ira P. Nudd, 
and Moses Thompson to manufacture shoes for Boston parties in 
connection with merchandising. The amount of business trans- 
acted by Mr. Pickering as a merchant was unusually large for the 
times, and he was also connected with every branch of com- 
mercial activity in Wolfeborough. He carried on the manufac- 
ture of brick on a large scale. He founded and was a large owner 
of the stock of the Pickering Manufacturing Co., whose woolen 
and satinet mills were located at Wolfeborough Falls. He pur- 
chased large tracts of timber and carried on extensive lumbering 
operations, was one of the incorporators of the Wolfeborough 
Bank, and its president, and one of the stock company that built 
the steamer "Lady of the Lake." He, with his son-in-law, Charles 
Rollins, were the prime movers in the erection of the Pavilion 
Hotel. 

In 1820 Mr. Pickering was one of the three persons mentioned 
in the act of incorporation of the Wolfeborough and Tufton- 
borough Academy. The council that organized the Congrega- 
tional Church met at his house, and he and his wife were among 
the twelve first members. He also gave the lot on which the 
church stands to the Congregational Society, to be held as long 
as it should be used for church purposes. Mr. Pickering married, 
June 20, 1822, Sarah C, daughter of Joseph Farrar, of Wolfe- 
borough. 

In person Mr. Pickering was somewhat above medium size, 
with dark hair and eyes, and while quiet and a man of few words 
in business, was very pleasant and social in society. An "old 
line" Whig in politics, he was postmaster for many years through 
various administrations. He died very suddenly February 14, 
1856. Mr. Pickering was the foremost citizen of his time in 
Wolfeborough. That his memory lasts is shown by the designa- 
tions, "Pickering's Corner" and "Pickering School." 



488 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Charles Rollins was born at Somersworth, N. H., May 30, 18 12, 
being a descendant of James Rollins, who emigrated to America 
in 1632 with the settlers at Ipswich, Mass., and in about 1642 he 
received a grant of land at Dover, N. H., where he permanently 
settled. Mr. Rollins came to Boston when quite a young man 
and engaged in the business of contractor and builder, which he 
carried on with great success until 1870. Many fine buildings 
were the result of his labors, among them being the Central 
Congregational Church on Berkeley Street and the Adams House 
on Washington Street. 

Mr. Rollins was greatly interested, when a young man, in 
politics. A strong Republican, he declined to hold any public 
offices, although offered a number at different times in the city 
government, devoting nearly all his time to his business. In 
1849, with Daniel Pickering, he erected the Pavilion Hotel and 
continued as its owner until his death. Mr. Rollins was always 
interested in the welfare and progress of Wolfeborough. He 
married Caroline Dana Pickering, daughter of Daniel Pickering, 
January 11, 1848. Mr. Rollins died very suddenly at his home on 
Commonwealth Avenue, in Boston, March 4, 1897. 

Mr. Rollins yearly visited Wolfeborough and his family still 
occupy as a summer home the handsome estate, formerly the 
Pickering tavern, on Main Street. 

Thomas Lupton Whitton, son of George and Esther (Copp) 
Whitton was born in Wakefield, August 8. 181 1. On his patemal 
side he descends from a noted family in Yorkshire, England, his 
father emigrating to this country when he was entering man's 
estate, about 1800. His sister Margaret was the wife of Daniel 
Raynard, Esq., who became owner of the Wentworth nrjtv-ion 
and surrounding farm. George Whitton visited this farm and 
purchased one hundred acres of land nearby, but did not occupy 
it, as he had became acquainted with the family of Captain David 
Copp, of Wakefield, and marrying his daughter Esther, he settled 
in that town as innkeeper and farmer. About 1826 Mr. Whitton 




CHARLES ROLLINS 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 489 

removed to Wolfeborough and made his home on that part of 
the governor's farm he had purchased so long before. Here he 
passed the remainder of his Hfe, dying December, 17, 1852. His 
wife survived him, dying September 5, 1857. George Whitton was 
a man of fine proportions, six feet in height, energetic, and 
possessed of rare good judgment in practical matters. He was 
an "old line" Democrat. His wife possessed a large amount of 
that energy, capability, and attractiveness so characteristic of the 
best New England women of that period, and her home was a 
model one. They had three children, George Washington, 
Thomas L., and David Copp. 

Tliomas L. Whitton had common school and academic educa- 
tion. He married Sally, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth 
(Page) Morse, of Kingston, where she was born June 29, 1812, 
and settled as a farmer near his father, and finally purchased the 
homestead, which he still occupies. He has been largely in- 
terested in raising, buying, and selling cattle, and his business 
has been purely agricultural through life, except that in early life 
he was for some terms a successful school-teacher. Mr. Whitton 
inherited many qualities from his mother, and has for long years 
been a most valuable citizen, popular with the people, and one 
of Wolfeborough's representative men. He has been moderator 
ten times, selectman nine times, representative four times, member 
of the governor's council twice, and twice delegate to constitu- 
tional conventions. Originally a Democrat, he was one of the 
earliest Free-soil men, and has been a Republican from the or- 
ganization of the party, and one of its most faithful and successful 
workers. He has been a member of the Congregational Church 
from early manhood, and a Freemason for many years. His 
public duties were ever discharged with conscientiousness, and his 
private life has been marked by warm social feelings and quiet 
unobtrusiveness. Mr. and Mrs. Whitton have four surviving 
children, Charles A., Oscar F., David E., William M. Charles 
A. married Annie E. Prescott. She died April 6, 1889. Their 



490 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

children are Anietta Lilian, married Irving Oilman ; Abbie Anna, 
EUie B., Oscar F.. married Clarissa Blake; children: Sarah M., 
married Frederick E. Meader; Esther C, Clara L. and Dorothy 
B. David E., married Annetta A. Tibbetts, who died Dec. ii, 
1875, they had one son, Thomas Edwin, who died April 24, 1896; 
William M., married Susan Haines. 

The Remick family are of German origin, the name being cor- 
rectly spelt Remich, and they originally lived upon the Moselle 
River. Christian Remick came to this country prior to 1652, and 
settled upon the shore of the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Me., 
about a mile from Portsmouth bridge. The homestead has al- 
ways remained in the Remick name until very recently. 

Charles Remick, the subject of this sketch, was born in Kittery, 
Me., May 12, 1815. He was the son of Josiah and Lydia (Fer- 
nald) Remick. His father died when he was ten years old. At the 
age of sixteen he came to North Wolfeborough to learn the car- 
penter's trade, and ser\^ed three years as an apprentice ; beginning 
life at the end of this time with the capital of a new suit of home- 
spun, a rule, a jack-knife and a thorough knowledge of his trade. 
He married Elizabeth G. Huggins of East Wolfeborough. They 
made a home at North Wolfeborough, and here united with the 
Methodist church, where he became leader of a choir of thirty 
young persons. Later, when living in Boston, he was one of the 
founders of the Tremont St. Methodist Episcopal church of that 
city. 

In 1848 Mr. Remick returned to New Hampshire, and 
spent the remainder of his life at Wolfeborough 
Falls. He and his wife were members of the 
Free Baptist church of this place until their death, 
and always contributed liberally to its support. As a 
mechanic, he excelled ; and many of the best buildings in Car- 
roll County were erected under his supervision. During the civil 
war he was a quarter-master in the Portsmouth Navy Yard. 

'^I'he one great delight of his life was music, and he had been 



• 




,« 

V 




^ 


^*w 


r. 


^4 


^■^^^ 





CHARLES REMICK 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBDROUGH. 491 

chorister thirty-one years when age compelled him to drop the 
work. His struggle to introduce into church service instru- 
mental music, the first of the kind in town, is one of the most 
amusing matters connected with local history. 

He was a man of deep convictions and pronounced opinions. 
He early became interested in national politics, and threw one of 
the first free-soil votes cast in Wolfeborough. He was a strong ad- 
vocate of temperance, and an avowed prohibitionist. He died 
July 2. 1890. Children : Lydia F., married Joseph W. Chad wick ; 
Adelia A., married Wm. B. Hodge; Marietta, married Rev. J. 
Frank Locke ; Everett H. ; Everett. Of these only the eldest 
survives, 

Alpheus Swett, who was born in Alfred, Me., in 1798, married 
Susan Rogers of Wolfeborough. Mr. Swett farmed for some 
years on Tuftonborough Neck and in 1849 removed to the Rogers 
farm in Wolfeborough village, where he lived until his death in 
1884. After coming to Wolfeborough, Mr. Swett engaged in 
farming and, to some extent, in steamboating on the lake. He 
held several town offices in Tuftonborough and was known far 
and wide as a man of probity and high character. 

Children: Eli C., born Nov. 2, 1826, married Sarah M. Hersey 
of Tuftonborough ; William T., married Kate Gray of Michigan, 
went west; Charles, died young; John R., married Mary Brown 
of Tuftonborough. 

Eli C. has been a farmer and has had an active hand in lake 
navigation. He is referred to in the chapter on that subject. 
Children: Ella J., married Fred Stevens of Union; Etta M., 
married Fred L. Melcher of Brunswick, Me. ; Wilbra H., married 
Priscilla Stearns of Cleveland, Ohio. 

John R. lived in Wolfeborough for several years and was en- 
gaged in steamboating. He now resides in Ossipee. 

Wilbra H., the son of Eli C, left home in the early '8o's, 
and farmed a claim he had taken up in Mitchell, South Dakota. 
In 1889 '"le went to Butte, Montana, and entered the employ of 



.Q2 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the manag-ement of the Anaconda and Butte and Boston Copper 
mines. He served in the state legislature two terms and in 1900 
came back to his old home. He is now engaged in the hardware 
business here. 

Joseph Lewando was born in Boston, Mass., Dec. 3, 1850, 
and is the son of Adolph and Emily (Smith) Lewando. He re- 
ceived his early education in the Chauncy Hall School, Boston, 
and at the Highland Military Academy in Worcester, Mass., and 
attended the chemical department of the Lawrence Scientific 
School at Cambridge during the years 1869 and 1870. His father 
had established at Watertown, Mass., the Lewando Dye Works, 
for the supervision and charge of which the son was trained. In 
1870 he took charge and held the position for five years, when 
the business not being to his liking, he removed to Mt. Tabor, 
Oregon, where he engaged in g-eneral merchandise for eight 
years. 

In 1883 he returned east and settled inWolfeborough — his wife's 
native town — where he conducts a general mercantile business. 
He was for three years in the New Hampshire National Guard 
as Captain of Company K., Third Regiment, and a member of 
the State Legislature m 1897 and 1899, serving in 1897 as chair- 
man of the Committee on Mileage and as a member of the Com- 
mittee on Banks, and in 1899 as chairman of the Committee on 
Military affairs. He was Alternate to the National Republican 
Convention at Minneapolis in 1892, and during the past fifteen 
years has held various offices in his adopted town. He is a 
member of Morning Star Lodge, of Masons, of Carroll Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, and of St. Paul Commandery, Knights 
Templar, of Dover, N. H. Mr. Lewando was married Septem- 
ber loth, 1875, to Nellie J. Morgan They have two children: 
Alice C. and Dolph. 




THOMAS L. WHITTON 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Casualties and Fires — William Fullerton drowned the 
Year the Town was incorporated — Numerous drown- 
ing Accidents — The Varney and Jerome Tragedies — 
Henry Rust's Boys burned out — The South Wolfe- 
borough Fires — The Big Fire of 1887 — Incendiarism 
— Last disastrous Fire. 

IN 1768 William Fullerton was drowned in Smith River. 
Eleanor Hawkins was drowned in 1802. July 12, 18 19, Mrs. 
Deborah Brown was killed by lightning. A babe on her breast 
was uninjured. In 1824 James Cate, while assisting in butcher- 
ing, fell into a tub of hot water and was scalded to death. Decem- 
ber 21, 1826, a daughter of Paul H. Varney was drowned in 
Crooked Pond while on her way to school. John Judkinswas killed 
by his son about 1830. In 1833 Stephen Giles was killed by the 
kick of a horse. A strange premonition of this was felt by Rev. 
Hiram Holmes on the Sabbath preceding. Mr. Giles was in his 
congregation in the morning and Mr. Holmes said that he was 
impressed that a person then present would die during the week. 
This he repeated with greater conviction during the afternoon. In 
1802, Joshua Rust, son of Richard Rust, six years old, was thrown 
from a horse against the door-stone of his father's house, killing 
him. About 1840 Aaron Frost was drowned while crossing a 
flooded meadow. About the same year Samuel Young died from 
exposure on a cold night. December 26, 1840, David, son of 
Dr. David T. Livy, eight years old, broke through the ice in 
Lake Winnipesaukee and was drowned. Jesse Nute was found 
dead in the road in 1841. In 1845 a child of Robert Estes fell into 
a vessel of hot water and was scalded to death. August 10, 1846, 
a boat was capsized near Clark's sands, in Wolfeborough Bay, 

493 



4Q4 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

and A. Brewer, of Boston, aged twenty, S. T. Perry, of New 
Durham, aged seventeen, and Everett Huggins, ofWolfeborough, 
aged nine, were drowned. In 1855 Dexter May, ten years, was 
kicked to death by a horse.. April 10, 1857, William FuUerton, 
aged fifty-eight, was drowned in Lake Winnipesaukee. March 
15, i860, a cannon burst, killing Joseph Garland, seventeen, and 
Everett Warren, fifteen. December 27, 1861, Mark A. Lucas 
perished from exposure. March 12, 1862, Deacon Richard Bick- 
ford, aged seventy-eight, was crushed to death by a heavily loaded 
wagon that he was driving. December 21, 1863, a child of Charles 
F. Chase was so scalded that death resulted. August, 1868, Wil- 
liam J. Tilden, of Lawrence, Mass., was thrown from a carriage 
and soon died. December 18, 1870, Benjamin Kimball was skat- 
ing to Pleasant Valley to attend a baptism, when the ice broke 
and he was drowned. February i, 1871, Samuel Jones was killed 
by the kick of a colt. March 13, 1874, Charles W. Varney, an 
active business man, twenty-eight years old, and George Stewart, 
a hired man, started to cross the lake to Alton and were never 
seen thereafter. Their horse and sleigh floated ashore in July. 
They were doubtless drowned, though divers searched for their 
bodies in vain. June 24, 1874, Dudley L. Avery, son of Augus- 
tine D. Avery, aged sixteen, was drowned near Wolfeborough 
Neck. September 12, 1874, Miss Fannie Home, aged seventy, 
was burned to death by her clothes taking fire. October 16, 

1874, Joseph Hayes, sixty-five, was crushed so that he died the 
same day, by a building he was assisting in moving. July 14, 

1875, Freddie, son of Daniel Deland, aged eight years, and an- 
other boy of nearly the same age were drowned in the inner bay. 
Willie, a son of J. R. Duncan, was drowned in the lake May 8, 
1878. 

August 28, 1875, Lettie, a seven-year-old daughter of Rev. A. 
D. Fairbanks, fell into a cellar, receiving injuries from which she 
died two days later. April 6, 1879, Bertie, son of Arthur P. 
Young, a lad of four years, broke through the ice in the bay near 




ALPHEUS SWETT 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



495 



the mill at Wolfeboroug-h Falls and was drowned. Dec. 15, 1877, 
a daughter of James Bresnehan fell into a kettle of hot water and 
soon died. December 22, 1877, Daniel Wentworth, aged seven- 
teen, was drowned while trying to skate across Lake Wentworth 
in the night. May 28, 1886, Rev. Theodore Jerome and his three 
children, Paul aged eleven, Kate, aged nine, and Bernard, aged 
six, and Theodore Davis, aged nineteen, were drowned within 
two miles of the village. This was a strange and unexplainable 
accident. The day was calm ; Mr. Jerome and Davis were expert 
swimmers ; their boat was found quite near an island, while the 
bodies were not far oflf, in water of no great depth, and not far 
apart from each other. April 25, 1887, Ira Hanson, aged thirty- 
three, fell and broke his neck while walking. July 13, 1887, 
Thomas Geary, of Rochester, was drowned in Rust's Pond while 
bathing. Charles Harriman committed suicide by taking poison 
July 24, 1890. James W. Drew, a section hand on the railroad, 
was struck by a wild engine, September 26, 1890, and received 
injuries from which he died the next day. May 21, 1897, William 
C. Fox, Esq. and his son John W., were capsized while fishing 
near Mud Island, Lake Winnipesaukee. The son managed to 
reach the shore, but Mr. Fox was drowned. The body was re- 
covered on the following day. April 29, 1900, Frank P. Tracy 
and Henry H. Archer were drowned while fishing in Lake Win- 
nipesaukee. Notwithstanding a most thorough searcn extending 
over several weeks, the bodies were never recovered. Other 
casualties of which we know not the date are here given. Frank- 
lin Meserve, a lad, was crushed to death by a loaded wagon. A 
boy named Glidden was drowned in Lake Wentworth. John 
Bickford was drowned in Lake Winnipesaukee. An employee of 
the South Wolfeborough blanket factory was crushed to death. 
Ichabod Libbey fell from his carria^ge on the hill near Mark 
Fernald's and died from his injuries. Nathan Morrison was 
crushed to death by a heavy stone which he was trying to sink 
on the walk near his dwelling. 



496 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Before Henry Rust, the early settler, had brought his family 
here, his camp was burned, destroying his guns, clothing, and 
provisions. About 1813 the dwelling of Samuel Nudd was burned, 
and in it his two sons, aged ten and eleven years. The Governor 
Wentworth house was destroyed in 1820 by fire cauglht from 
sparks falling on the moss-covered roof. Samuel Avery's store 
was burned in 1823. Running fires caused the burning of the 
dwelling of Isaac Poor in 1829. David Blake's residence was 
burned in 1830. In 1826 the home of Daniel Whitten was burned, 
Dec. 15, 1841, the woolen factory in Wolfeborough Falls, owned 
by the Pickering Factory Company, was burned. This factory 
was built in 18 16, and became the property of the above firm 
(composed of Stephen and Daniel Pickering, Nathaniel Rogers, 
and Samuel Avery) in 1836. Insurance on buildings and ma- 
chinery, $5,000; on stock (owned by Stephen Durgin), $1,500. 
A tannery owned by Moses Varney was burned in 1845 > loss, 
$10,000 above insurance. November i, 1845, Nathaniel Rogers' 
barn was struck by lightning, and consumed with its contents ; 
loss, $1,000. 

December 5, 1846, a fire at South Wolfeborough destroyed a 
chair manufactory, a wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill, a tan- 
nery, a shingle mill, a carriage shop, and an unoccupied store. 
The losers were Henry B. Rust, Nathaniel Banfield, John C. 
Corliss, and William Deland. The whole loss was $5,000. In 
1850 James Boyle's woolen factory at South Wolfeborough was 
burned, and near the same year John Haines lost his dwelling, 
and John Tabor a small pipe factory. March 7, 1861, a grist- 
mill owned by Mrs. Alphonso G. Colby was burned ; loss, $3,500 ; 
insurance, $2,500. January 21, 1862, a set of buildings, house, 
barn, etc., and contents, belonging to William Clark, were con- 
sumed. The Paul Varney house was burned in 1864. John A. 
Chamberlin lost a new barn, part of his dwelling, and two hundred 
dollars' worth of tools and hay by fire, July 11, 1868. 

Libbey, Varney & Company's steam mill was burned June 24, 




JOSEPH LEWANDO 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



497 



187 1 ; loss $i2,o(X). March 29, 1875, the dwelling occupied by 
Samuel Jenness on Trask's Hill was burned. A tannery, barn, 
and shed, with a large amount of stock, all belonging to Moses 
Varney, was consumed by fire July 4, 1877; loss above insurance, 
$15,000. The Parker house near South Wolfeborough, formerly 
the residence of Colonel Henry Rust, was burned December 7, 
1877. John Clow's farm building was burned August 10, 1878. 
A house owned by Paul D. Rand was burned September 9, 1878. 
A. S. Libbey lost buildings by fire November 9, 1878, amounting 
to $1,500 dollars. October 11, 1881, the dweUing of Jasper H. 
Warren was burned. January 21, 1885, a dwelling owned by N. 
T. Brewster and occupied by Isaiah Piper was burned. February 
2, 1887, a fire destroyed two wooden buildings, used as stores, on 
the present site of Central Block. The postoiifice was located in 
one of the buildings, but was removed without damage to mails. 
Piper Block was also damaged ; total loss, about $7,000. 

August 9, 1887. occurred the most disastrous fire in the town's 
histor}'. The newly erected shoe factory owned by citizens and 
occupied by Messrs. Cropley and Monroe was burned together 
with eight dwellings and a large quantity of dressed lumber. The 
fire department at that time consisted of two volunteer companies, 
with hand engines, and it is little short of miraculous that the 
fire was checked short of the lake shore. The property burned 
beside the factory were three dwellings belonging to Blake Fol- 
som, a carpenter's shop, double house owned by Sawyer & Tib- 
betts, three houses owned by William C. Thomson, one house 
belonging to Greenlief B. Clark, also a large quantity of pine 
boards belonging to Libbey & Varney. The total loss was $140,- 

000. In October, 1887, a fire broke out in Piper Block, doing 
some damage to the property of occupants, among whom were 
the G. A. R. Post, Lake National Bank, Granite State News, Co. 
K. N. H. Militia, and several stores. Nov. 2, 1887, the stable of 
Jesse Gould on North Main Street was burned. The stable of 

1. B. Manning, his nearest neighbor, was set on fire the same day. 



498 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



Both these fires were incendiary. In June, 1888, the Free Baptist 
Church was damaged by a fire which destroyed the sheds. B. F. 
Garland's dwelHng at Pine Hill was burned the same month ; loss, 
$1,000. 

December 24, 1889, the Libbey and Varney mill burned. The 
fire was of small extent when discovered, but owing to the failure 
of the hand engine and the apparatus for the new hydrants, total 
loss ensued. Some dry lumber was also consumed. The Cole- 
man house near Wolfeborough Center was burned in 1893. This 
building was one of the oldest in town. 

In 1891 the dwelling of Mrs. Lowell at Pleasant Valley was 
burned. March 3, 1894, a threatening fire broke out at Wolfe- 
borough Falls, which for a time bid fair to destroy the business 
portion of the village. An excelsior mill belonging to Frank Hut- 
chins was destroyed, with a loss of $6,000. Furniture and 
machinery amounting to $1,900, the property of William B. 
Hodge, was also lost. The buildings on the Hasty farm were 
burned October 18, 1894; fire supposed to be incendiary. The 
dwelling-house of Fred E. Hersey on Center Street, Wolfe- 
borough Falls, was badly damaged by fire Feb. 20, 1896. The 
"Estabrook," a Brewster Academy dormitory, was gutted by fire 
February 24, 1897. The mammouth barn owned by N. T. Brew- 
ster was burned Feb. 23, 1896, together with twenty tons of hay 
and a cider-mill. Most of the large stock of animals were saved. 
The barn was 150 by 36 feet and the cider-mill 40 by 30 feet ; loss 
about $6,000. 

May 28, 1899, the town was visited by its most disastrous con- 
flagration since the factory fire of 1887. The fire started in the 
waiting-room of the B. & M. R. R. wharf building. This was 
quickly destroyed ; the flames then spread to the old C. & M. R. 
R. wharf structure. Goodwin's Block was also destroyed. In 
the B. & M. building were located the offices of the Granite State 
News, the laundry of John McHugh, rooms of the Wolfeborough 
Cornet band, and a storage room for carriages. The other wharf 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. .^ 

was used for dwelling and storage purposes. Goodwin's Block 
contained the stores of Charles H. Johnson, Sylvester A. Edgerly, 
Everett S. Albee, and the Wolfeborough Drug store. The build- 
ing was owned by Mrs. M. A. Goodwin. Offices occupied by 
Sewall W. Abbott, Charles F. Parker, and Dr. F. E. Header 
were in the building as was also the lodge room of Morning Star 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Carroll Chapter, R. A. M. The loss was 
about $60,000. As in all previous instances of this kind the town 
quickly responded to the emergency, and the burnt district pre- 
sents a better appearance than ever before. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Fire Precinct established — Fire Engine purchased — Hose 
Companies succeed Volunteer Firemen — Electric 
Light Plant installed — Wolfeborough Water Works 
— Post Routes and Stages — Primitive Postal Facili- 
ties — The Dover-Sandwich Stages — Famous Drivers. 

MAY 2, 1866, the citizens of the westerly portion of the town 
took advantage of the statute providing for the establish- 
ment of a lire precinct, which was laid out as follows : — 

Beginning at the westerly corner of John Folsom's land, on 
the lake, running northerly by said Folsom's land to the road 
leading from Wolfeborough to Tuftonborough ; thence by said 
road to the westerly corner of Joseph Edmonds' farm ; thence by 
the westerly side of Joseph Edmonds', George W. Bassett's, and 
William Mason's land to the Pine Hill road, so-called ; thence by 
said road to the westerly corner of Zamander Garland's land; 
thence by said Garland's and Elisha Goodwin's land to land of 
Nathaniel Piper ; thence by said Goodwin's land to Crooked Pond, 
so-called ; thence across the end to the easterly side of said pond ; 
thence by the shore of said pond to land of Eli V. Brewster; 
thence by land of said Brewster to South Branch Brook, so- 
called ; thence across said brook to the northerly side of Nathaniel 
T. Brewster's land; thence by said Brewster's land and Smith's 
Pond to the rangeway at the corner of Benjamin F. Thompson's 
land ; thence southerly by said Brewster's land and the rangeway 
to land of Addison W. Banfield ; thence by said Banfield's land 
and the rangeway to the lake ; thence by the shore of said lake to 
Smith's Bridge ; thence by the shore of the lake to the Carrying 
Place, so-called ; running across said Carrying Place to the first- 
mentioned bounds, not meaning to include Wolfeborough Neck. 
soo 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



501 



At the same meeting $1,075 ^^'^s appropriated to purchase a 
fire engine and hose. This famous fire fighter was fonnerly Straf- 
ford Engine No. i, of Dover. The name was changed to Carroll, 
No. 2, and under this appellation it is still treasured by the precinct. 
The engine house was built the same year on land leased from 
Moses T. Cate. The first board of firewards elected were Alvah 
S. Libbey, Eleazer D. Barker, and Joseph W. Goodwin. 

The fire apparatus was added to from time to time up to 1888, 
when a ladder truck was presented the precinct by citizens and 
summer visitors, its need being demonstrated by the big fire of the 
preceding year. The old engine company was disbanded upon 
the installation of the water works in 1889, and since that date 
four hose companies have given adequate protection to the com- 
munity. South Wolfeborough still maintains its volunteer en- 
gine company. 

The hose companies are Rollins, No. i, Henry B. Furber, fore- 
man ; A. W. Wiggin, No. 2, Alonzo W. Avery, foreman ; Eagle, 
No. 3, Charles L. Home, foreman; Monitor, No. i, of South 
Wolfeborough, Horace B. Rust, foreman. Irving W. Godfrey 
is foreman of the Hook and Ladder company. 

Monitor Engine Co.. of South Wolfeborough was organized 
in 1862, and purchased an engine and maintained it for several 
years, when the town assisted them by purchasing hose. It was 
the first organized company in town and still maintains its organi- 
zation. 

At the annual precinct meeting in 1897 a committee was ap- 
pointed to consider the advisability of establishing an electric light 
plant. Their report was favorable, and action was subsequently 
taken to install such a plant for street and domestic lighting, 
$6,000 being appropriated. Since then an engine has been pur- 
chased at an expense of $2,000, and the property has appreciated 
until it is today estimated to be worth $10,000. The management 
of the system is in the hands of the board of firewards, consisting 
of Joseph Lewando, Obed S. Young, and George H. Clough. 



^02 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

The plant includes a dynamo, engine, wiring, and lights, power 
being furnished from the mill of S. W. Clow & Co., near which 
the power house is located. There are now on the circuit one 
hundred incandescent lamps for street lighting and seventeen 
hundred for domestic purposes. 

In 1887, after an extended period of public agitation as to the 
need of an adequate supply of water for household uses and fire 
protection, the Wolfeborough Aqueduct and Water company was 
incorporated. The corporation consisted of John L. Peavey, 
Jeremiah A. Farrington, Joseph W. Goodwin, and Charles F. 
Piper. Some preliminary surveys were made, but in the meantime 
the feeling that the town should undertake the work crystallized. 
Upon the payment of expenses already incurred, the Aqueduct 
company waived its chartered rights and in June, 1888, an act 
was passed "to establish Water Works in the town of Wolfe- 
borough." 

On August 12 of the same year a board of water commissioners, 
consisting of Israel B. Manning, Henry W. Furber, and Joseph 
P. Heath, was appointed by the selectmen. The board im- 
mediately began an investigation of the various sources of water 
supply in the vicinity, and on August 24, at a previously appointed 
meeting of the citizens made a preliminary report. 

At this meeting the commissioners were instructed "to take 
water from that source which will furnish an ample supply of the 
best quality of water, at the least expense." Acting under this 
vote and in accordance with the advice of Messrs. Farrington and 
Springfield, engineers, it was decided to adopt the gravity system 
and take water from Beech Pond. 

Proposals for construction and the furnishing of material were 
opened September 7, and awards were made as follows : For 
furnishing wrought iron pipe, gates and valves, Gilchrist & Gor- 
ham, Boston, Mass. ; cast iron pipe and special castingis, McNeil 
Pipe and Foundry Co., Burlington, N. J. ; hydrants, King & 
Goddard, Boston, Mass. ; laying of pipe, Franklin A. Snow, Provi- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 503 

dence, R. I. ; construction of reservoir and intake, Frederick R. 
Page, Maiden, Mass. Ground was broken for the intake on Sep- 
tember 25, and trenching for the main was begun October 3. On 
the first day of January, 1890, fifty-six taps had been made in 
the distributing pipe, and nearly seventy families were supplied 
with water. The remaining work in connection with the first 
contract was completed early in the spring. Joseph P. Heath 
has been superintendent since the installation of the system. 

Since then there have been three additions to the system as 
follows : To South Wolfeborough, at a cost of $9,000 ; to Whit- 
ten's River, at a cost of $2,000; to Goose Corner, at a cost of 
$1,000 

Total number of water takers, 400 

" hydrants, 57 

" " public fountains, 3 

Total length of pipe, 18 miles. 

Capacity of distributing reservoir, 300,000 gallons. 

STATEMENT FOR THE YE.^R ENDING FEB. I5, I9OI. 

Cash on hand (Feb. 15, 1900) $686.13 

Additional service 39i-6i 

Material Sold 11.67 

Sale of 3 1-2 per cent. Bonds 800.00 

Rentals to July i, 1901 3,291.00 



CASH 


PAID. 




Interest on Bonds 




$1,769.75 


Bonds (4's) Redeemed 




800.00 


Labor on Works 




465.82 


Material Purchased 




600.64 


J. P. Heath — Superintendent 


275.00 


Miscellaneous Bills 




73.10 


Cash on Hand 




1,196.10 



504 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



LIABILITIES. 




Bonds (3 1-2's) 


$56,000 


Bonds (4's) 


1,000 




$57,000 


ASSETTS. 




Work Shop 


$ 200.00 


Material and Tools 


473-28 


Goose Corner Extension 


293.22 


Water Works Plant 


7,500.00 


Cash in Treasurer's hands 


1,196.10 



$77,162.60 

The first provision for the conveyance of mail rnaUer in New 
Hampshire was made June 17, 1786, when the legislature enacted 
a bill providing that a "post set ofif every other Monday from 
Portsmouth and proceed through New Market, Durham, Dover, 
Rochester, Wakefield, Ossipee Gore, and Tamworth to Moulton- 
borough ; thence through Meredith, Gilmanton, Barnstead, Bar- 
rington, and Dover to Portsmouth." A route established in 1791 
came from Portsmouth once a fortnight to Dover, Rochester, 
Wakefield, Ossipee, Tamworth, Sandwich, Holderness, Plymouth, 
Meredith, etc., as before. Neither of these routes touched Wolfe- 
borough, although both went around it. 

The only post-ofBce in Strafiford County previous to 1800 was 
at Dover. In the Gazette and Advertiser, published in that town, 
were frequent advertisements of letters for persons in what are 
now Carroll County towns. The post rider in those days was 
Samuel Bragg, the publisher of the paper. He commenced his 
trips in 1795 and consumed a week in making the round. His 
compensation was twelve pounds a year. Postage on letters was 
four pence under forty miles and six pence for each additional 
forty miles. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



505 



It is probable that the first post-office in Wolfeborough was 
estabHshed about 1820. and that Daniel Pickering was the post- 
master. He held the office for many years. For some years prior 
to that date there was without doubt a horseback mail between 
Dover and Wolfeborough. possibly continuing through Sand- 
wich. It is certain that a post rider passed through Wolfeborough 
on the route from Concord to Portland, Me., going over the 
"Dick" Mountain road. This was at a very early period. On 
this route the saddle-bags were eventually superceded by a one- 
horse wagon. 

One summer's afternoon in 1825 the citizens of Wolfeborough 
were treated to a surprise. There was the usual gathering about 
the post-office awaiting the arrival of the mail, when down the 
turnpike was seen approaching a dashing two-horse coach, wdth 
flag Hying, the horses galloping, while the exuberant driver, 
Robert I. Clark, wound thrilling blasts upon the horn. It was the 
arrival of the new mail outfit from Dover, and hearty were the 
cheers with which it was welcomed by the assembled company. 

The postmasters since Mr. Pickering's long term of office have 
been Levi T. Hersey, Eleazer D. Barker, Charles F. Hill (for a 
brief period), Charles H. Hersey, John G. Cate, Charles F. Piper, 
Joseph W. Goodwin, Frank P. Hobbs, and Forrest W. Peavey. 

Stage connections were made from time to time with various 
points touched by the railroad previous to the building of the 
Wolfeborough road in 1872. During the summer season the 
boats plying on the lake have also carried the mails. At the 
present time Wolfeborough is the distributing point for mails for 
North. South, and Center Wolfeborough, and Mirror Lake and 
Melvin Village in Tuftonborough, stage connections being main- 
tained with these points. The facilities enjoyed by the town are 
now adequate, four mails to Boston being allowed during the 
larger portion of the year. 

Other post-offices in town are East Wolfeborough and Wolfe- 
borough Falls, the former having railroad service and the latter 



5o6 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOKOUGH. 

both railroad and stage service. The South Wolfeborough post- 
office was established in 1834, with Henry B. Rust as postmaster. 

In considering- the development of the town's mail service one 
naturally recalls some of the famous stage-drivers of former days. 
Men who, like Henry Savage, Henry Sayward, and the Gilmans, 
permitted neither weather nor bad roads to hinder them on their 
tri-weekly trips from Sandwich to Dover. Four generations of 
Gilmans have held the reins on the Sandwich route, Samuel and 
his son Charles, both noted whips, Charles Jr., who is still driving 
between Wolfeborough and Sandwich after thirty-eight years of 
service, and Charles L., who assists his father on this route. Good 
stories are told of the time when "Steve" Durgin used to "beat 
the boat" from Alton to Wolfeborough. James and Silas Durgin 
were also favorites on the "pike." 

Mention should also be made of Crawford. John Quimby, 
Frank Nelson, Elisha Allen, James Rendall, EHsha Hanson, 
Henry W. Furber, Charles Rendall, and Charles S. Paris, most 
of whom are remembered by the older portion of the community. 

Flying trips were made on the old Sandwich — Dover line. The 
horses were the beet money could buy, changes were made at 
Melvin, Wolfeborough, Middleton, and Rochester, and the drivers 
used to "send em" at top speed. Express trains can never take the 
place, sentimentally or aesthetically, of the old "coach and four" 
of early days. 




1/5 
UU 

z 
o 

< 

I 
I- 
tr 
< 



CO 



LLl 

u 



CO 

LLl 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Early Transportation Projects — Roads and Canals — Fa- 
cilities AFFORDED BY THE LaKE — JoSEPH SmITH AND HIS 

Gundalow — Old-time Rafting — The First Steamer, 
Belknap — The Lady of the Lake — Wolfeborough 
gets in Closer Touch with the World — Negotiations 
for Railroad Connections — Wolfeborough Road 
finally constructed — Difficulties overcome — Steam- 
ers Dover and Mount Washington — Story of the 
Lady — Famous Old Craft of a Generation Ago — The 
Future — Exports of Former Days. 

LONG before the conception of steam power and engines as 
applied to locomotion, men of advanced thought in New 
England became interested in the promotion of improved methods 
of travel and transportation. No public official was more zealous 
in this work than Governor Wentworth. In a letter dated April 
5, 1758, now on file in Halifax, he says : "A road may be easily 
made from Quebec to Winnipiseogee which would immediately 
communicate with all the populous and most fertile parts of New 
England at one-third of the distance, trouble, time and expense 
of any other route." 

During the first three years of his temporary residence in Wolfe- 
borough he secured the laying out, through the town, of the Pe- 
quaket Road, leading to Conway, and the opening of the College 
Road its entire distance to Hanover. The facilities for communica- 
tion between difTerent localities at that time beyond common high- 
ways consisted of turnpikes and canals. 

When the Wentworth Farm was offered for sale in 1797. the 
vendue bill stated that it was "bounded by Smith's Pond & said 
pond discharges itself into the great Winnipisocky Lake, from 

507 



5o8 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

thence there will be a canal communication with Boston in a few 
years." A charter was obtained in 1811 "to cut a canal and lock 
all the falls between Winnipiseogee Lake and the Cocheco branch 
of the Piscataqua in Dover," a distance of twenty-seven miles. 
The fall of four hundred and fifty-two feet required fifty-three 
locks, and the expense was estimated at three hundred thousand 
dollars. 

This charter failed to be effective, and in 18 19 the "Little Pe- 
quakit Canal" company was incorporated. It was claimed that by 
the construction of this canal more than one and one-half million 
square miles of timber land would be opened to navigable waters, 
and that immense benefit would accrue to New Hampshire. The 
invention of locomotives and the building of railroads have long 
since brought into service more practical methods than the canal, 
which in early days was the highest type of transportation for pur- 
poses of internal commerce. 

Lake Winnepesaukee furnishes excellent facilities for the car- 
riage of freight and passengers. This body of water is nineteen 
miles long, varying in width from one to ten miles. Its shape 
being irregular, it has numerous bays, which serve as excellent 
harbors. The largest are Meredith, Moultonborough, and Merry 
Meeting. Its height above ocean level is 502-496 feet, and its 
greatest depth, east of Rattle Snake Island, is 200 feet. Its water 
area is 1,949,049,466 square feet, its islands have an area of 227,- 
313,357 square feet, and its basin includes about 350 square miles, 
no point in this basin being more than seven miles distant from 
the shore. The amount of water discharged at its outlet is remark- 
ably large compared with the extent of the watershed. Several 
large peninsulas project into its waters. They are Meredith Neck, 
Moultonborough Neck, Tuftonborough Neck, and Wolfeborough 
Neck. The last mentioned is the smallest. 

Wolfeborough, situated on the eastern shore of the lake, owes 
much of its prosperity to the proximity of this body of water. 



HISTORY OF WOLFE BO ROUGH. 



509 



The first settlers utilized, it in summer for freighting in their little 
dug-outs and in winter with their hand-sleds, as well as a means 
of communication with other pioneer settlements on its shores. 
When Governor Wentworth erected his mansion, in 1771, he 
made use of a small sloop to convey the materials across the lake. 
This was probably the first craft larger than a canoe on its waters. 
Joseph Smith, a wholesale merchant of Dover, who in the early 
twenties established many retail stores in the rural towns, dis- 
tributed his goods in part by means of a gundalow, which made 
use of sails when the wind was favorable and large oars when it 
failed. This vessel navigated the lake for several years and was 
finally wrecked on Great Boat Ledge in a gale of wind. Several 
of this kind of craft have sailed the waters of the lake. Rafting 
in early times was done by means of sails and oars on the same 
principle as the gundalows. The crews consisted of ten men. 
There were two sets of rowers, four each, who alternately worked 
at the sweeps in order that the unwieldy structure might not lose 
its headway. The oars were heavy and the labor arduous. Much 
simpler and more effective is the method of towing by steamer 



now m vogue. 



The first horse boat was built by David Parsons, of Long 
Island, ii) 1838. This kind of craft became quite comm.on. One 
of ihem was used as a judges' boat in the first Harvard-Yale boat 
race, which took place off Center Harbor in 1856. Nathaniel 
Rogers, of this town, built one for the transportation of stock and 
produce, to and from his lands on Rattlesnake Island. 

Before the railroads reached Winnipesaukee most of the freight- 
ing between Wolfeborough and the commercial towns farther 
south was by ox-teams, overland. After the steamer Lady of the 
Lake began running in connection with the Boston, Concord & 
Montreal railroad, freight from Boston came over that route dur- 
ing the summer season, but very little in the winter, as travel on 
the ice between Wolfeborough and Lake Village was considered 
somewhat hazardous. Consequently, during the winter the old 



CIO HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

method of teaming over the Middleton road was resorted to, al- 
though horses were as a rule substituted for the slow ox-teams. 

A stock company, organized in 1830, built the first steamer on 
the lake in 1833. This was the Belknap, and a curious craft it was. 
The boiler was set in brick, and the boat drew so much water that 
a lighter was employed to load and unload its cargo at the Wolfe- 
borough landing, which was then located on the estate now owned 
by Charles F. Piper. The speed of the craft was from six to eight 
miles an hour, under favorable conditions. Winburn A. Sanborn, 
afterwards captain of the Lady of the Lake, was first in charge 
of the boat; James Jevvett was captain when she was lost. This 
steamer never proved a success, and, when, in November, 1841, 
it was wrecked on Steamboat Island, its owners were rather re- 
lieved than otherwise. 

The "Lady,''' then in charge of the popular Captain William 
Walker, was moored each night at the Wolfeborough wharf and 
transported the Boston freight for two years before any compe- 
tition arose. In 1851 the Cocheco railroad having been continued 
to Alton, the steamer Dover was built to run in connection with it. 
From that date most of the freight from the metropolis was car- 
ried over the Boston and Maine road, being forwarded to Wolfe- 
borough in summer by the "Dover" and in winter over the ice. 
This method continued until the construction of the Wolfe- 
borough railroad, in 1872. 

It was a vast improvement over the ox-team, this speedier and 
less expensive transportation by steam power, although the ad- 
vantage was confined to the warm season. As always follows, 
facilities acquired beget a desire for still greater conveniences, and 
the inhabitants of the more densely populated portion of the town 
became greatly interested in securing direct railroad connection 
with the outside world. The Boston, Concord & Montreal, the 
Boston & Maine, and the Eastern railroads, were three distinct 
and separate organizations, having no particular interest in com- 
mon ; the two former had already made connections with Win- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



5" 



nipesaukee, and the projectors of the last named, though not 
averse to acquiring a port on the lake, were more desirous of con- 
trolling the mountain traffic. 

It was confidently hoped that the Portsmouth, Great Falls & 
Conway Railroad Company would lay out their road south of 
Lake Wentworth, touching at Wolfeborough village, thence run- 
ning northerly to Conway. There was another practicable route 
through Wolfeborough by way of Cotton Valley and Water Vil- 
lage, and it was understood that the builders of the new road 
looked with favor upon this location. The survey, however, would 
have carried the line four miles east of Winnipesaukee and was 
not what the Wolfeborough people desired. The road was finally 
constructed east of the Wolfeborough hills and ten miles distant 
from the lake. 

The completion of the Conway road rendered the construction 
of a line to Wolfeborough, from any point, quite problematical. 
Subsequently, however, Hon. John W. Sanborn, who held official 
relations with the Conway road, suggested to some leading citi- 
zens that a branch from that road to Wolfeborough might be 
secured, provided that a sum equal to one-fifth of the town's 
ratable valuation could be raised. This amount would equal 
thirty-five thousand dollars. The people of Wolfeborough were 
favorably impressed with the idea and soon made application to 
the legislature for a charter. By an enactment of July i, 1868, 
the Wolfeborough Railroad Company was incorporated, to ex- 
tend from Wolfeborough Junction to Wolfeborough, a distance 
of twelve miles. 

At a town meeting held September 20, 1869, it was voted (three 
hundred in favor to one hundred and twenty-two against) to ap- 
propriate thirty-five thousand dollars to aid in constructing the 
road, and Elisha Goodwin, Jr., Blake Folsom, and John L. Gold- 
smith were appointed a committee to represent the town in all 
negotiations with the railroad company. It was voted to pay one- 



512 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



half the appropriation when the road was brought to grade and 
the balance upon its completion. 

Considerable time elapsed before active operations were begun, 
and December 2, 1870, the former votes, appropriating the money 
and appointing the committee, were ratified, the vote at this time 
standing two hundred and fifty-two in favor to seventy against. 

Work was commenced on the road Nov. 1871, ground being 
broken near Mast Landing by Lyford Shorey, then aged eighty- 
seven years. A band discoursed stirring music, and the occasion 
was made one of rejoicing at the propitious beginning of a long 
desired work. August 19, 1872, the first locomotive, hauling 
five passenger coaches, triumphantly whistled its way into town, 
and all who wished were given free rides to the Junction during 
that day. Regular trains were put on as soon as the stations 
could be completed, and the service has thus far been maintained 
without a single fatal accident. 

Three stations are located on the branch, Wolfeborough, Wolfe- 
borough Falls, and Cotton Valley, besides a flag station at Fer- 
nald's. The road is now under a lease to the Eastern railroad, 
which expires in 1940. 

The road was not built without engineering difficulties. Deep 
cuts had to be made on either side of the Wolfeborough Falls 
station and long dumps across Lake Wentworth, Crooked Pond, 
and the Back Bay. The route is an attractive one, bordering as 
it does for a long distance a beautiful mountain-hemmed lake. 
All things considered, the one adopted is the best of the plans 
suggested for a railroad to the lake. To one gifted with the pro- 
phetic instinct, the idea of some future connection with the west- 
erly side of Lake Winnipesaukee might suggest itself. The lay 
of the land would make such an undertaking comparatively easy 
of accomplishment. 

The name of the steamer Dover, already spoken of as running 
in connection with Boston & Maine railroad, was afterwards 
changed to the Chocorua. She was one hundred and fifty feet 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



51.3 



long and twenty-four feet beam, being afterwards lengthened to 
one hundred and sixty-two feet. She was succeeded in 1872 by 
the commodious steamer Mount Washington, which is still in 
commission. She is one hundred and eighty feet long and twenty- 
five feet beam. The boat is the only large craft now running on a 
regular schedule on the lake. She is licensed to carry twelve 
hundred passengers. The late genial Augustus W. Wiggin was 
for many years her captain. Harry Wentworth, of Long Island, 
is now in command. A few years ago she was completely over- 
hauled and partially rebuilt, and is now a model of the side-wheel 
lake type. 

When the Concord & Montreal railroad reached Lake Village 
in 1848, a demand was immediately felt for a connection with 
Wolfeborough and Center Harbor by way of the lake. The Win- 
nipesaukee Steamboat Company was organized that year, its 
charter dating June 24, 1848. James N. Elkins, S. C. Lyford, 
and Charles Lane were authorized to call the first meeting, and at 
that meeting Mr. Lyford was chosen chairman and Mr. Lane, 
clerk, with these two gentlemen and the following as grantees : 
J. N. Elkins, William Walker, Jr., Benjamin J. Cole, and J. P. 
Coflfin. The directors were Woodbury L. Melcher, Daniel Picker- 
ing, William Walker, Jr., B. J. Cole, John Coe, J. N. Elkins, and 
J. T. Cofifin. The first meeting was held at the Cerro Gordo 
House, Sept. 12, 1848. Benjamin Cole was elected president ; 
Charles Lane, clerk ; J. T. Coffin, treasurer ; William Walker, 
agent. At a meeting held October 25 of the same year Mr. Wal- 
ker presented a model for a boat, which was accepted. The plan 
called for a craft one hundred and twenty-one feet long and 
twenty-one feet beam. Messrs. Walker and Cole were authorized 
to build and they proceeded with the work as soon as possible, 
the lumber used being cut around the lake. 

The boat was finished in time to hold the annual meeting on 
board, July 20, 1849. William Walker, Jr., of Concord, was the 
first captain, and held a controlling interest in the stock, which 



514 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



he afterwards sold to the railroad company. Eleazer Bickford was 
the first pilot and succeeded Mr. Walker as captain after the latter 
had served some fifteen years. Then followed Winburn A. San- 
born, James Be'ede, S. B. Cole, then Captain Sanborn again, and 
John S. Wadleigh, who commanded the boat until she was re- 
tired from service. Pilot John Lovett, whose death occurred in 
the summer of 1900, was the best known steamboat man on the 
lake. 

The "Lady"" was partially rebuilt in her twenty-first year. Nov. 
13, 1867, while lying at the Wolfeborough dock, she took fire 
and burned to the water's edge. On one occasion, with a moon- 
light excursion on board, she struck a rock on Witch Island and 
was beached on Davis Island. The loss of the season's business 
and the repairs made necessary by this accident cost ten thousand 
dollars. The steamer paid handsome dividends for years, but 
competition finally made the continuance of her trips unprofitable, 
and when she became too old for service, it was deemed best not 
to replace her with a new boat. 

Other smaller craft whose names will be remembered by the 
older residents of Wolfeborough were the following : — 

The Dolly Button was built originally by Libbey & Varney as a 
scow. She was afterwards purchased and converted into a tow- 
boat by Abram Guptill. She was famed more for her utility than 
for her gracefulness or speed. 

Eli C. Swett bought the NaugatucJc of Charles Brown of Lake 
Village in 1866. Soon after Mr. Swett went west, and upon his 
return in 1873 built the Mayflower, a small, side-wheel, passenger 
and freighting boat, which ran for some twenty years. 

The Long Island,hm\t by George and Perley Brown, was of the 
flat-bottomed, square-end type, with a deck. 

The Red Hill, built by Boston parties, never proved a success, 
and her dismantled hulk now lies near Lee's Mills. 

The James Bell was at one time owned by Alpheus Swett, and 
was by him sold to Lake Village parties. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 515 

The Maid of (he Isles, a commodious deck and cabin steamer, 
was built at Wolfeborough by William D. Haley. Her draft was 
too great for convenient navigation, however, and she was finally 
rebuilt at Lakeport, from which place she now runs as an excur- 
sion boat. 

The Nellie, formerly a government launch in Portsmouth har- 
bor, was run for several years from Wolfeborough, by her owner, 
J. R. Duncan. 

Numerous pleasure and freighting boats now ply the waters of 
the lake, their number being estimated as high as one hundred and 
fifty. The natural developmnt of the lake region as a summer 
resort will make these craft much more common. 

Tn the old days the lake traffic was the main dependence cf the 
town tor supplies from the outside world. The old resident can 
remember when the "Lady" lay outside Sewall's Point waiting 
for the ice to leave the bay in the spring. In the autumn, naviga- 
tion lasted in many cases until the steamers had to break ice to 
reach their winter berths. A special feature was the exporting of 
Thanksgiving poultry, when as many as twenty-two tons have 
been shipped from Wolfeborough, in one consignment, by boat. 
All the heavy supplies needed by the merchants in the winter were 
ordered in advance and delivered by the steamers. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

The Pueiic Landing — How Judge Sewall disposed of His 
Lands in Wolfeborougii — Smith's Bridge Village 
BUILT on His Original Lot — Squatters on the Land- 
ing — Sewall's Statement — Development of the 
North Shore. 

THERE lies in the center of Wolfeboroiigh village, on the 
lake shore, a small parcel of land, now covered with build- 
ings, over which there has been more discussion and controversy 
than any tract of ten times its area in town. This is the so-called 
pubHc landing, given the public by deed of Judge David Sewall. 

When, in 1766, the land in Wolfeborough belonging to the 
twenty-four town proprietors, as joint owners, was divided in 
severalty, lot number sixteen fell to David Sewall, attorney-at-law, 
of Portsmouth. It lay on both sides of a portion of Smith's River 
and of Wolfeborough bay, the shore-line bordering a large portion 
of the waters of the latter. The lot contained four hundred and 
forty acres, two-thirds of which was situated on the northwesterly 
side of the river and bay. 

The portion of the lot on the southeast side of the river ad- 
joined Daniel Treadwell's lot, number fourteen. The line between 
the two lots extended from a point near the main road to Lake 
Winnipesaukee, an estimated distance of two hundred and twelve 
rods. The north-easterly line ran nearly in the direction of the 
main road to what is now Pickering's Corner ; thence in the same 
line east of the site of the shoe factories to Smith's River ; thence 
by the river, bay and lake shores to the point where the south- 
eastern line reached the lake. 

On this lot is built most of that portion of Wolfeborough vil- 
lage which is known as Smith's Bridge. The southeasterly part 
516 




o 

z 

LU 
Q 



O 

o 

O 
lU 

o 

2 
LU 
Q 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 517 

of this lot was sub-divided by the Miles or Main road ; that on 
the south side of the road adjoined Lake Winnipesaukee and con- 
tained one hundred and forty acres, that on the north side of the 
highway, one-tenth as much. Each division was a triangle in 
shape. 

These lands were thus disposed of by Mr. Sewall : 

August 30, 1769, one year after the settlement of the town, he 
deeded to John Sinkler a tract thus bounded : Beginning at the 
northeast corner of his proprietary lot and extending northwest 
sixty-five rods ; thence, carrying that width to the lake, a distance 
of two hundred and twelve rods ; the amount of land conveyed 
being eighty-six acres, more or less, the consideration for which 
was thirty pounds and two shillings. This land is now apparently 
in possession of Greenleaf B. Clark. 

In 1777 Sewall conveyed to Moses Varney the fourteen-acre 
lot on the northeast side of the highway. In 1791 this lot reverted 
to him, being conveyed by Henry Rust, administrator of the 
estate of Matthew S. Parker. March 28, 1793, he deeded the same 
to Samuel Leavitt, its boundaries being thus described : Begin- 
ning at a stake on the country road, about twelve rods distant 
from Smith's Bridge ; thence by said road southeasterly about 
nineteen chains (76 rods) to the road leading to the Mills ; thence 
northeast or thereabouts, twenty-four chains (96 rods) by the 
Mill lot to Smith's River ; thence by the river and a right Hne to 
the stake first mentioned, which leaves a small piece of land to the 
northwest. On this lot was a small house and barn in the pos- 
session of Moses Varney, represented as a tenant. 

At the same time (1793) Sewall deeded to Leavitt a piece of 
land thus bounded: "Northeasterly, by the road leading over 
Smith's Bridge, southeasterly by land deeded to Sinkler, south- 
westerly by the Pond" (meaning the lake) — "a triangle, reserv- 
ing so much of the land at the angle at Smith's Bridge, adjoining 
said Pond, as may be necessary for a convenient landing for the 
inhabitants of Wolfeborough and others who may hereafter have 



5i8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 



occasion to make use of the same for that purpose." This tract 
contained fifty-three acres, more or less, and included the land 
now owned by Brewster PYee Academy (some forty acres), the 
Pavilion lot, and all other land lying between South Main Street 
and Wolfeborough bay, to the bridge. 

The portion of his lot on the north side of the river and bay, 
about two hundred and ninety acres, was sold to William Rogers 
in 1779 for four pounds of spring beaver fur. It was long in 
possession of the Rogers family. The Sewall Point lot and a strip 
of land ten rods wide, extending from the Main road to the lake, 
eventually came into the possession of Samuel Nowell. 

The Public Landing was not a conveyance, but a reservation. 
It was originally the property of Mr. Sewall, and he made the 
reservation not exclusively for the benefit of the corporation it- 
self, or for any member of it, but for the general public. It is 
doubtful if, after he made the declaration, he retained any personal 
claim on it. It was as free as the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee 
or the breeze that ripples its surface. The town had no property 
rights in it, except perhaps those of a custodian, whose duty it 
was to protect the rights of the public. No individual certainly 
had any personal right to any portion of it, and all claims of per- 
sons who originally seized the property were based on false 
premises. If, by his public declaration Sewall had not disposed 
of all his rights to the landing, the fee simple remained with him 
and certain selected heirs. His own heir to it was his widow, 
whom he constituted his residuary legatee, and her heirs were 
Paul Langdon and his wife Elizabeth, her niece, whom she made 
her residuary legatees, and their rights were conveyed to the 
town of Wolfeborough in 1849 by a quit-claim deed. No other 
heir of Judge Sewall could make a valid conveyance of the land- 
ing to any person, as they had no legal claim to it. Hence, their 
conveyances are valueless. 

The first person who squatted on the landing was James 
Brackett. On it he erected a cabinet-maker's shop, which was 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



519 



subsequently removed. Bracket! disposed of his claim to another 
party, by whom it was occupied until again conveyed. Divers 
persons have at sundry times seized portions of the landing and 
disposed of their claims to others, until, with the exception of a 
strip perhaps thirty feet wide, the whole landing is in the posses- 
sion of persons or corporations. 

Judge Sewall could not have anticipated the uses to which the 
landing would be put. It was then very convenient for a high- 
way watering place, being the only one on the Main road be- 
tween Meserve Brook and Mink Brook, and was used for lard 
ing boats in summer and teaming in winter. He delighted in 
visiting it on his occasional tours to Wolfeborough in company 
with his close friend. Dr. A. R. Cutter. They were accustomed 
to make their stay at Col. Henry Rust's, and on a pleasant day 
the trio would ride on horseback to the landing in dignified order ; 
first, Judge Sewall, then. Dr. Cutter, and last. Col. Rust. They 
would drive into shoal water for the comfort of their horses and 
leisurely view the beautiful bay and the attractive scenery sur- 
rounding it. 

In the early part of the last century the landing was claimed 
by the town, and several times agents were appointed to clear it 

of incumbrances, but nothing was done in this line. In 

Moses Thompson obtained of Judge Sewall's widow a quit-claim 
deed of the property. Mr. Thompson appointed John M. Brackett 
and Blake Folsom a committee to act with him, and they disposed 
of their rights to the Winnipesaukee Steamboat Company. This 
company was absorbed by the Concord & Montreal railroad, the 
railroad, in turn, by the Boston & Maine railroad, and the present 
occupants hold the land on lease from that corporation. 

A deed is on record showing that Jonas W. Varney bought of 
George Piper, for forty dollars, a half-acre of land extending from 
the land of Samuel Avery to the landing, October 14, 1823. 

This question of the ownership of the landing is a complicated 
one. The matter has been much agitated in recent years ; many 



520 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



protests have been made regarding the construction of fences, etc., 
and it is not improbable that action will be taken in the neiar 
future, looking toward some settlement of the matter. In this con- 
nection we give verbatim et literatim a statement made by Judge 
Sewall in 1808, over his own signature, to Henry Rust. This 
paper is now in the possession of Mr. Albert B. Rust: 

"With respect to the reservation mentioned in a Deed I made 
to Mr. Leavitt of about Fifty three acres of land in Wolf-borough 
on the S. West side of the Road there, adjoining Smith's Bridge 
so called, made and executed in 1793 after viewing the place in 
1800, and perusing a Copy of the description of the land, said to 
be taken from a Record of the Deed The whole of the Ground 
(which now appears to be vSand) between the Road, and the 
Waters of the Wenesepocky Pond, and are supposed to be about 
Twenty Rods in length, from Smith's Bridge South Easterly, 
was my Original intention to be reserved for a convenient landing 
Place. 

With respect to the exception, from the Triangular piece of 
about 14 Acre conveyed to said Leavett in the same Deed of 1793. 
I find that in 1777 the same was surveyed prior to making a Deed 
thereof to Moses Varney a Tanner and Shoemaker. Varney en- 
tered and improved it, in his own Right or as a Tenant, until the 
year 1791, When it came to me again by Deed from Col H. Rust, 
as Admin, of the Estate of Matthew S. Parker. . . The place 
where Vamey's Tan Vatts, were made and used, near the margin 
of Smith's River, I always supposed were within ; and a part of the 
14 Acres said Varney purchased of me. Tliat the straight line 
from the Stake (mentioned as the place begun at to describe the 
same land) would strike Smith River at or very near, said Var- 
ney's Tan Vatts: And the small piece reserved from the said 14 
Acres, was to adjoin Smith's Bridge was not supposed to exceed 
half an Acre in quantity At the time Leavit's Deed was made 
(1793) as Well as in 1777, when Varney first purchased, the 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. C2l 

Waters of the Pond were much lower than when I viewed the 
place in Oct. 1800. 

David Sewall" 

The development of the Sewall-Rogers lands on the northerly 
side of the bay within a decade has been remarkable. The land 
was purchased by Messrs. Charles F. Piper and George A. Car- 
penter, and is now practically covered with handsome summer 
residences. The pioneer in this movement was Colonel Edward 
B. Dickinson, of New York, who had visited Wolfeborough an- 
nually for several years and had become impressed with the ad- 
vantages of the place as a permanent summer home. He pur- 
chased a lot of ten acres, with a water front of nearly six hundred 
feet. Here he erected in 1889 an attractive residence, "FernclifTe," 
or thirteen rooms, with a wind-mill, bath-house, boat-house and 
several summer houses, about the grounds. A stone wharf, one 
hundred and forty feet long, affords ample dock facilities. The 
high standard fortunately set by Colonel Dickinson in the first 
house built on what is now Sewall road, has been to a good degree 
maintained by the numerous cottagers that have succeeded him. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

The iiARLY Homes of the Settlers — Methods of Building in 
Vogue — John Lary's Wife a True Helpmeet — Two- 
story Houses of Seventy-five Years Ago — Items of In- 
terest about Them — Holidays of Our Fathers — The 
Country Store as a Resort — Town Meeting, its Seri- 
ous AND Sportive Side — Independence Day — The 

Glories of Muster. 

^p^s^A^* •.;5st •. ^^.:^., ,.,.-,,„_.. 

THE first shelters of the settlers were rude huts of logs, de- 
signed for temporary occupancy. Log cabins intended for 
more permanent homes were constructed on more commodious 
lines, the walls being ceiled and partitioned. Board floors were 
laid, brick fire-places and ovens were constructed, and doors and 
windows built. It was one of these latter buildings in which Ben- 
jamin Blake lived for the first eighteen years of his married life. 
The same kind of dwelling served for Joseph Lary, whose buxom 
wife carried the roof boards for their home on her head from 
Smith's River to the site of the house, near the present dwelling 
of Benjamin Webster. Fortunately for the early pioneers, a saw- 
mill was established on the falls of Smith's River before a settler 
arrived, and another was soon built near the Wentworth farm. 
The first dwelling erected in Wolfeborough, if we except the 
Walter Bryant camp, on Mink Brook, was the Mill house situated 
near the garden of Roscoe M. Planders. This house was con- 
structed of sawed lumber. 
The houses of the settlers varied in the manner of their con- 
struction. A very few had but a single room, others had but two, 
some had an oven built outside. A quite common style of abode 
was the "half-house,' which consisted of one large living-room 
and one or two smaller rooms. The chimney was placed near the 

522 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



523 



outside wall, with two and sometimes three fireplaces. Except 
the one in use, these fireplaces faced the wall. If prosperity pre- 
vailed, and the family increased (as it usually did), additional 
rooms were built on, and these fireplaces were utiUzed. 

During the last of the eighteenth and the first of the nineteenth 
centuries quite a number of two-story houses were erected. 
Among them were the Isaiah Home house, Col. Copp's tavern, 
the Andrew Wiggin, Jonathan Blake, Joseph Edmonds, Daniel 
Wiggin, Header, Tebbetts, Bassett, Lucas, Varney, and Rogers 
houses ; the Jewett tavern, to which Richard Rust added the 
second story ; the Mason house, on the site of the Durgin building, 
but since removed to the corner of Glendon and School Streets ; 
the John Pickering tavern, now the Rollins house ; the Samuel 
Avery house ; the Guppy house ; the Hart house, now the rtsidence 
of Mrs. George W. Furber ; the residence of Mrs. Jethro Furber, 
which was built on the ten-acre Sewall strip by Samuel Nowell, 
and moved across the bay on the ice by Stephen Coflfin ; the old 
store, changed into the Joseph Farrar residence, and aftenvards 
into the Manning boarding-house, later removed to Union Street ; 
the Daniel Brewster house, the Henry Rust, afterwards the Parker 
house, now burned ; the Henry Rust, Jr. and Richard Rust houses 
at South Wolfeborough ; the Joseph Furber house in Pleasant 
Valley ; the houses of Elijah and Jonathan Hersey at Pine Hill ; 
the Isaac Edmonds house at Wolfeborough Falls ; the Allen par- 
sonage (with oaken frame), now owned by J. Frank Chamber- 
lain, at Wolfeborough Center; the houses built by James P. and 
Henry Home, now occupied by Frank B. Home and Samuel 
Reynolds; the Stoddard, Isaac Martin, and George Whitton 
houses, the last burned ; the Aaron Roberts and Thomas J. Tib- 
betts houses at North Wolfeborough. Possibly other two-story 
houses were built in town more than seventy-five years ago. 

The following facts regarding old houses in town are gathered 
from various sources : — 

James Eucas's house was where Gate's block now stands. 



524 



HISTORY OF WOLFE BOROUGH. 



Charles Thurston's house was the ell of Moses Thompson's 
house. 

Charles Thurston's cooper shop is the ell of Charles W. Gil- 
man's house. 

John Lucas's house was a part of the Richard Davis house. Dr. 
Blaisdell renovated it. 

Jeremiah Norris Taylor had a house opposite the Guppy house. 

Moses Seavey lived opposite the George W. Furber house. 
Seavey once occupied the farm in North Wolfeborough now 
owned by George Morgan. The brook near the farm is still called 
the Seavey Brook. 

Samuel Connor, a son of James Connor, lived near the Brews- 
ter Lane. 

Daniel Brewster lived at the end of the lane and owned five 
hundred acres of excellent land. His brother George had an 
equal amount, both farms constituting the "King" lot. 

The Henry W. Furber house was the original Daniel Brewster 
house. 

James Connor settled on the Tetherly place. Jeremiah, his son, 
occupied it, and after him Eliphus Wiggin. 

The John H. Rust house was built by Joseph Edmonds from 
rough to finish ; including setting of glass, etc., for one hundred 
and fifty dollars. William Kent built the Enoch Clark house. 

The Severance house was the John Warren house. Samuel 
Leavitt, Dr. Chapman, and Dr. Edgerly have all lived there. 

Joseph Smith's store stood where Charles F. Piper's house is. 
It is now the dwelling of Rev. Mark Stevens. 

John L. Piper's house stood on the site of Charles F. Parker's 
dwelling. Moses Piper, Dr. Perkins, Dr. Lary, and Dr. Hall 
lived there. 

Joseph Clark built the house he lived in, now occupied by 
Greenleaf B. Clark, He was a manufacturer of furniture. 

Deacon Rust's store was built by Nathaniel Rogers. 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 



525 



Samuel and John L. Piper's store stood where the Bank Build- 
ing is. 

The Pickering-Rollins house is the oldest in the village. The 
nails in it are hand-made and the laths are rived. 

Jeremiah Libbey's house was in the Belvue House garden. 

After the establishment of retail stores in Wolfeborough it be- 
came the practice with many of the adult population to make a 
half-holiday of Saturday afternoon. They would then visit these 
emporiums, make necessary purchases, swap news, and, we fear, 
imbibe mixed grog. The people of Wolfeborough, in common 
with other New England towns, observed five holidays annually. 
These were Town Meeting, Fast Day, Independence Day, 
Muster, and Thanksgiving. The Christmas festival was looked 
upon by many in those times as a survival of popery and was little 
countenanced. 

At first New Hampshire selected the first Tuesday in March for 
the annual election day ; later, the time was changed to the second 
Tuesday, as at present. Jeflfersonianism, Republicanism, or the 
intensive modification of it, Jacksonian democracy, generally pre- 
vailed in Wolfeborough during the first half of the last century. 
The Federalists and Whigs were greatly in the minority. There 
were no party caucuses nor any nominations announced in ad- 
vance. Seldom, even, were ballots prepared. Ready penmen 
would write them as wanted at the meeting, and would prepare 
them as cheerfully for one side as the other. The contests were 
often sharp, on one occasion eight ballotings being required for 
the last selectman. Of course some questionable tricks were 
played but, the boss had not then come into vogue. 

Until the meeting-house was built in 1792, the town meetings 
were held in private dwellings, made quasi-public by a license to 
sell spirits. The Mill house, which stood near the garden of 
Roscoe M. Flanders at Wolfeborough Falls was the last building 
so occupied. While the meeting-house remained as originally 
constructed, and after its transformation into a town-house, until 



526 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



the building of Brewster Memorial Hall, it was the only place 
where the citizens met to transact their legal town business. Al- 
though centrally situated, it was in a sparsely settled district where 
those who came from a distance could with difificulty obtain re- 
freshment. 

Many of the voters took pocket lunches with them, which were' 
in a manner supplemented by cold boiled eggs and home-made 
molasses candy peddled by boys, and the mute baker, Willand, 
endeavored to persuade his sceptical customers that the dry 
ginger bread he ofifered was "baked that morning." New rum 
could be obtained at three cents a glass. In later years appetizing 
food was served in booths erected on the grounds, a bowl of hot 
stewed oysters and a steaming mug of coffee forming an im- 
portant part of the popular repast. 

Wrestling was a common sport at these town meetings. 
Champions from different sections of the town were pitted against 
each other. The bouts were interesting and not altogether un- 
scientific. "Collar-and-elbow" and "side-hugs" were the favorite 
holds, and the supporters of the champions successful in either 
style would claim that the other method "wasn't wrestling at all." 
So engaged did the crowd become in these contests, that some- 
times the moderator was compelled to send a messenger to remind 
the voters that business was waiting them on the inside of the 
town-house. 

On Fast Day a large portion of the people attended divine 
worship in the morning. In the afternoon, weather permitting, 
the first ball game of the season was played, as is the custom to- 
day. 

July Fourth, the masculine element resorted to the village, 
where, unless an orator and some special observance had been 
provided, they waxed patriotic over their punch, while the youths 
burned powder and ignited explosives with zest. A few women 
occasionally appeared on the scene, but only as spectators. Cory- 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. C2'7 

don and Phyllis foraging for ice-cream and lemonade, were a later 
development of the "glorious Fourth." 

The twenty-seventh regiment of New Hampshire militia con- 
sisted of the enrolled soldiers residing within the towns of Effing- 
ham, Ossipee, Wakefield, Brookfield, Tuftonborough, and Wolfe- 
borough, the extremities of the district being about thirty miles 
apart. The training field was in Ossipee, and the muster was the 
gala occasion of the year. Everybody who could, went ; the ro- 
bust young or middle-aged man was there by a requirement of 
the law ; the older men and the youths went to indulge in retro- 
spect or to strive to emulate ; the wives and sisters were there be- 
cause their husbands and brothers were. Brave was the show 
made by the gaily uniformed troops, intricate were the evolutions 
and bold the hazards of the sham battle ; with bugles blowing, fifes 
screaming, and drums beating, what enemy could stand before 
them? 

The towns furnished the militiamen both Hquid and solid 
rations. Venders at booths supplied the civilian crowd with the 
same, and at least as many were worsted by their devotion to 
Gambrinus as fell by the assault of the enemy. Footsore and 
weary, soldier and citizen arrived home at a late hour of the night, 
affirming, however, that town-meeting bustle and Independence 
Day glories paled before the spectacular wonders of Fall Train- 
ing. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

Items of Interest — Bonus paid to take the Inventory — 
Whipping Post — Origin of Shad in the Lake — Big 
Storm of 1816 — Bill for burying a Pauper — Hot Po- 
litical Frays — Town surveyed — Thomas Chase's Wall 
— First Carriage, Umbrella, and Cider-mill — A Big 
Tavern Bii-l — Changes around Lake Front — Two 
Famous Apples. 

IN 1789 the town voted to let the taking of the inventory to the 
lowest bidder, and the privilege was struck off to John Home 
for eight shillings. There seems to have been at this time con- 
siderable competition for the berth. William Cotton the follow- 
ing year offered to pay eight shillings per £100 collected. In 
1 79 1, however, the town excused him from paying this bonus, and 
he simply did the work without financial reward. 

At the town-meeting in 1810 it was voted to kill all dogs within 
town limits, also to pay a bounty of ten cents for all crows killed. 
Evidently the farmers had been suffering from marauders both 
in pasture and field. It is doubtful if the decree against the canines 
was very strictly enforced except, perhaps, in the case of the 
worthless ''yaller dog." 

Charles L. Home, who was bom November 6, 1828, says he 
recollects distinctly seeing a man whipped at a whipping-post, 
when a young boy. He describes the whipper as being a thick- 
set man. The culprit did not seem to mind the punishment at 
first, but, as the handler of the rod warmed to his work, he howled 
with pain and made ineffectual efforts to free himself. A man 
standing near characterized the punishment as an outrage, but 
was quieted by the suggestion that he was making himself liable 
to the same treatment. Some girls who had been insulted by the 

5^8 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



529 



man at the post expressed their unquahfied approval of the pro- 
ceedings and were likewise admonished. Mr. Home's memory 
fails to locate the situation of this instrument of punishment. 

In 1796 taxes were as follows: town, $62.50; county, $12.23; 
school, $90.00 ; minister, $166.67. 

In 1798 at the auditing of the town accounts the expenses for 
the day were four shillings ; for rum for the day three and one- 
half shillings. 

Corn and rye for taxes were generally delivered at the houses 
of William Rogers and William Triggs. 

In 1799 Samuel Leavitt, the grandfather of Samuel Leavitt 
who now occupies the machine shop in Wolfeborough Falls, re- 
moved a stone which was in the highway between his house, 
since known as the Banfield place, and Smith's Bridge at a cost 
to the town of twenty dollars. This stone was probably located 
near the Brewster farm. The price paid for its removal, con- 
sidering the low wages of that time, indicates that it was a serious 
obstruction to travel. 

In the spawning season, before the Merrimac was so effectually 
dammed, the salmon and shad came up the river together in the 
spawning season. At the junction of the Pemigewassett and 
Winnipesaukee Rivers they parted company ; the shad making 
their way to the lake, the salmon keeping up the Pemigewassett. 
The descendants of these shad are now caught in large numbers 
during the winter season. 

Until 1804 there was no tax for breaking paths through the 
snow, but any person who refused to assist, when called upon by 
the surveyor, was liable to a fine of three shillings for himself, and 
the same amount for each yoke of oxen owned by him. In 181 1 
a winter highway tax equal to the summer tax was assessed. 

The late venerable Robert Wiggin told that in 18 16 the ground 
was bare until the month of March, when there fell in one storm 
four feet of snow. Only fourteen persons reached the town-house 
on election day. The following season was very cold. Snow fell 



530 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

on the sixth day of June and frost appeared every month in the 
year. No sound corn was raised. This important cereal was hard 
to obtain at two dollars a bushel. Some thrifty farmers who had 
a store on hand refused to sell except to the needy. A day's work 
was the price of a peck of frost-bitten com. 

In 1 79 1 the wages of town officials and laborers were the same, 
fifty cents per day. 

In 1787 the town officers were elected by a poll vote. 

Bill for burying a pauper in 1821 : "Digging a grave, $1.00; 
coffin, $1.50; winding sheet and grave clothes, $2.50; spirits and 
candles, $2.00 ; trouble and attendance, $2.75." 

The town ceased to elect tithing-men in 1825. 

Elections in the "good old days" were hotly contested. In 1845 
there were nine candidates for first representative, and three bal- 
lots were necessary for a choice. At the same meeting there were 
fourteen candidates for first selectman and two ballotings ; twelve 
candidates for second selectman and two ballotings ; forty candi- 
dates for third selectman and eight ballotings. 

The town was surveyed in 1803 by Isaiah Home, a state requisi- 
tion. Home's bill was a hundred and one dollars. 

In 1819 the town voted not to allow horses, cattle, sheep, and 
swine to run at large in the winter season. 

Thomas Chase built two thousand rods of good stone wall on 
his farm which was situated near New Durham town line. Much 
of this wall is still standing in fine condition. 

The large elm which stands near the Dudley Hardy house was 
carried and set out there by Isaac Poor in 1799. 

It is said that Daniel Raynard, who was for some years owner 
of the Wentworth Farm, possessed a pleasure carriage. The first 
chaise was owned by Richard Rust. Its body was square and 
painted yellow with red stripes. A portion of it is still in the 
possession of Horace B. Rust. The first bellows-topped chaise 
was probably purchased by Samuel Avery and sold by him to 
John Pickering. In 1817 Richard Rust, John Pickering, and 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



531 



Joseph Varney were each taxed for a chaise. Jacob Home was 
the owner of the first wagon in town. Portions of it are still in 
the possession of his grandson, Frank B. Home. Mrs. Richard 
Rust owned the first umbrella. James Connor built the first cider- 
mill. 

Following is James Connor's account for the expenses of the 
selectmen for the year 1779-80: — 

May 15 To 9 meals victuals £8:2:0 

" 5 bowls toddy 3:0:0 

July 9 "6 meals victuals 8 :8 :o 

" 3 bowls toddy 3 :3 :o 

Feb. I "3 meals victuals 4:10:0 

Cyder i :i6 

This rate of £1 :25s per meal seems rather stiff for those — or 
any other — times. Were the town fathers bon vivants, or was 
the worthy Boniface "on the inside?" The bill, however, is in 
existence, and figures are proverbially truthful. 

A "potash" was in very early times located in the garden of the 
Belvue House, and another where J. L. Young's store is now 
situated. 

Piper's store, which stood on the site of the Bank Building, 
projected out over the water, so that boats could be loaded there. 
All the land between this building and the river has been made. 

About 1800 there was a long one-story building where Swett's 
hardware store stands. The bridge was some five feet further 
up stream then and not so elevated as at present. There was a 
shoal along where the wharves are that was undoubtedly included 
in Sewall's gift. 

Two varieties of apples were common in the old days. They 
were the "Farm Sweet," an oval red apple of rather ordinary 
flavor that grew on the Governor's Farm and the "Durgin 
Apple." This latter was a medium-sized, sour, red fruit, excellent 
for cooking, but would not today be considered a fine table apple : 
It is doubtful if either of these apples are grown today. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

Old Time Customs — How the Settler prepared and culti- 
vated HIS Land — Spinning and Weaving — Food and 
Clothing — How they ''drove" Trees — Game of all 
kinds plentiful — Stimulants not frowned upon — 
The Pioneer's Axe — Plain Living and High Think- 
ing. 

THE early inhabitants were generally small farmers, depend- 
ing mainly on the annual products of their farms for their 
sustenance. In the winter some attention was given to the manu- 
facture of staves and oars, with which a portion of their groceries 
were purchased. The early spring was devoted to sugar-making, 
while the principal part of the summer season was occupied in 
"clearing land" and raising crops. Trees were usually felled in 
June, as then they were in full leaf. The branches were "lopped" 
and the trees left to "dry" for several weeks. They were then set 
on fire, and the leaves and small branches burned. If it was in- 
tended to put the land into rye, the principal grain crop, the 
scorched trunks were at once "cut up" and "piled," and the 
"heaps burnt ofif." In piling and burning, the father and sons 
were frequently assisted by the female members of the family, and 
at the close of a day thus spent in "the lot" the whole group would 
have well passed for "contrabands." The ashes left from the 
burning heaps were gathered and sold to "the storekeeper," who 
had "a potash" connected with his little grocery. Sometimes the 
felled trees, after being "burned over," were permitted to remain 
until the following spring, when they were cut, piled, and burnt, 
and the land planted to Indian corn by the method termed "under 
the hoe." The farmer after removing a little of the burnt surface of 
the earth with the hoe, would loosen and raise a small portion of 

the soil ; at the same moment a nimble boy or girl would deposit 
532 




MRS. NANCY EDGERLY 

( AT THE AGE OF 106 ) 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOKOUGH. 



533 



a few kernels of corn beneath the hoe, and the work of planting 
was completed. The crop would require little or no care until the 
harvest, but sometimes it would be necessary to cut down a few 
tender weeds. Early in the autumn, before gathering- the corn, 
the land was sown with winter rye, which was "hacked in" with 
hoes. Subsequently grass seed was sown. The harvest of rye 
would come ofi in July or August of the following year, leaving 
the soil, if there had been a "good catch," which was usually the 
case, well swarded. The hay crop the succeeding year was gen- 
erally very heavy. So rankly would it grow as to render the use 
of the rake in gathering it unnecessary. 

Grain was threshed with flails in the fields on plats of earth 
rendered hard by beating. It was winnowed by being shaken in 
a strong current of air. That portion of it mixed with the earth 
was fed out to swine or used for seed. Sometimes threshing- 
floors were built of timber and boards. Corn was husked in the 
open air, and secured in corn cribs or small latticed buildings. 
Portions of the corn fodder, straw, and hay were deposited in 
stacks, rhe barns, or, more properly, hovels, being too small to 
contain the whole. A roof of split-stuff or boards was usually 
placed over the stack. 

Wheat, oats, and potatoes were but little cultivated. Turnips 
were a common crop. Flax was an important product. It did not 
succeed well on "burnt ground," and it was the custom with those 
who were making new farms to hire it grown on the ploughed 
lands of the first settlers. It was harvested by being pulled from 
the roots and tied in small bundles. Then, after being exposed 
to the sun for a few days, the bolls were threshed to obtain the 
seed. Subsec|uently it was taken to the field and thinly spread 
upon the surface of the ground, until the straw became so much 
rotted as to be easily broken. It was then gathered into bundles 
again and stored, where it usually remained until the spring of the 
following year. March was accounted the best month for "get- 
ting out flax." It was first "broken," by being repeatedly beaten 



534 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



in a machine with wooden knives, or teeth, called a "break," until 
the straw was reduced to small fragments, leaving its external 
covering, a strong fibre, uninjured. It was then "swingled." This 
was done by suspending it beside an upright board fixed in a 
heavy log, and beating it with a large wooden knife, until the 
greater portion of the shives and coarser fibres was removed. It 
was then hackled, or combed, by being repeatedly drawn through 
a machine of strong pointed wires attached to a wooden base. 
It was sometimes again subjected to a similar process, a finer 
instrument being used. What remained was termed flax ; that 
which had been removed by the special processes, tow, of which 
there were three kinds — fine tow, coarse tow, and swingle tow. 
"To get out flax" required a certain degree of skill and practice, 
and persons who were adepts at the business were accustomed to 
go from place to place for that purpose. The manner of spinning 
flax was peculiar. It was first wound about a distafif made of the 
terminating twigs of the pine bough, fastened together in such 
a manner as to form a globular framework. This distafif was at- 
tached to a small wheel called a "linen wheel." This was moved 
by the foot, the hand being employed in drawing out the flax, and 
occasionally applying it to the Hps for the purpose of moistening 
it. Flax-spinning furnished an opportunity for a class of social 
interviews called "spinning bees," when the women of a neighbor- 
hood would take their wheels to one house and spend the after- 
noon in busy labor and talk, permitting the friend whom they 
visited to have the benefit of their toil. Tow was carded with 
hand-cards, and spun in a manner similar to wool. Swingle tow 
was used in the manufacture of meal-bags and straw tidks. 
Combed tow formed a part of towels, coarse table-covers, and 
common outer garments. It was sometimes used for under gar- 
ments, in which case, it is said, flesh brushes and hair mittens 
were rendered imnecessary. Flax and wool were the principal 
materials from which were manufactured the cloth and clothing 
of the family. Occasionally small purchases of cotton would be 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 535 

made, but this was very little used. Not only was there a supply 
of cloth sufficient for home use manufacture, but also a little for 
sale. Hence, in setting up housekeeping, it was necessary to pro- 
vide the young couple with a large and a small spinning-wheel, 
a loom, reeds, harnesses, wraping bars, spools, and quills. These 
were regarded as matrimonial fixtures, and a young woman was 
not considered "fit to be married" until she had supplied her 
wardrobe, dining-room, and bed-chamber with the manufactures 
of her own hands. 

Garments were made in the family. Sometimes a tailor would 
be applied to for the purpose of "cutting out" a coat. This was 
usually the only required aid from abroad. The rest of the house- 
hold apparel was made by members of the family. In warm 
weather almost every one went barefooted. In the autumn the 
shoemaker with his kit, consisting of a hammer, a strap, and a few 
knives and awls wrapped up in his leather apron, went from house 
to house for the purpose of "shoeing" the several families, his 
employers furnishing the material, — leather, thread, and bristles, 
and even the resin and tallow used in maunfacturing the wax. 
He was also expected to provide a lapstone and lasts. If the 
latter were wanting, blocks of wood were shaped to accomodate 
the several members of the family. The cordwainer was generally 
a jovial fellow, full of fun and stories, and pretty sure to give the 
unlucky urchin who might chance to stand near his elbow a thrust 
in the ribs. Cattle were also frequently shod upon the farmer's 
premises. They were "cast" on beds of straw and securely bound, 
their feet pomting upward. In this position the shoes were 
secured. 

Much of the woolen cloth designed for men's clothing was 
woven with a wale, and colored a yellowish brown with the bark of 
the yellow oak. Blue was a color greatly in vogue, and an indigo 
dye-pot was found in almost every chimney-corner. This color, 
however, was generally combined with some other in the manu- 



536 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



facture of cloth. A copperas color and "blue check" was regarded 
as very desirable for female attire. 

The clothing consisted principally of home manufactures. In 
winter the men sometimes wore deerskin garments, but more 
frequently short woolen frocks and trousers. In summer the 
same style was preserved, but the material changed, tow-and-linen 
being substituted for wool. Holiday garments were made of thick 
"full-cloth." Nearly every substantial citizen was the possessor 
of a grayish-white "great-coat," which lasted a lifetime. Boots 
were almost unknown, shoes and buskins being worn in winter. 
The buskin was simply a footless stocking fastened to the shoe 
for the purpose of protecting the foot and lower part of the leg 
from the snow. The "go-to-meeting" dress of a woman consisted 
of a bonnet called a calash, which resembled a chaise-top, a short, 
loose gown, a skirt, an apron, and a handkerchief fastened about 
the neck. A hooded cloak, usually of red color, was worn in 
winter. The stylish ladies wore straw bonnets ; one, with an occa- 
sional bleaching, would last for a decade. They also dressed more 
elaborately than the common class. The vandyke was also worn. 

Shoes, and generally stockings, were worn to church. With 
many it would have been regarded as an unwarrantable waste to 
have wore shoes on the way. They were carried in the hand until 
the place of meeting was nearly reached, and then put on, to be 
taken off again on the return. Some of the more wealthy wore 
coarse shoes on the road, and exchanged them for "moroccos" 
when near the church door. Such carefulness was necessary in 
order that a person might preserve suitable apparel for holiday 
occasions, since a young woman with her weeks' wages could only 
purchase two yards of common print. "Fancy goods" bore a 
corresponding price. 

The walls of many of the houses were constructed of logs, 
which, however, usually were hewn and the interstices between 
them filled with clay mortar. The better class of the people had 
frame-houses covered with rough boards and unpainted. The 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGU. 



537 



interior was seldom completely finished. The rooms were sep- 
arated by a ceiling of boards, sometimes planed and occasionally 
paneled, but more frequently rough. Chimneys were built of 
rough stone, and topped with laths plastered with clay. In the 
better class of houses they were built of brick. In all cases they 
were very large and provided with spacious fireplaces. The oven 
opened into the fireplace. In some instances it was built in the 
open air, but not frequently. These large chimneys were more 
easily constructed of coarse materials than smaller ones, and were 
also necessary on account of the large fires kept burning in the 
cold season. These fires could not be dispensed with, the houses 
being so openly constructed as to readily admit the air. The 
hovels for the shelter of stock consisted of walls built of hewn 
logs fastened at the corners, and covered with a roof similar to 
that placed over the haystack. 

The mode of traveling was principally on foot. Few horses 
were owned by the people. These were used for horseback riding. 
It was a common practice for two persons to ride at one time, 
usually a man and a woman — the man riding before on a saddle, 
and the »voman upon a pillion attached to the saddle. Not un- 
frequently one child, and perhaps two children, would be carried 
at the same time. Wheel carriages were rarely used by the in- 
habitants. In the winter season sleds drawn by horses and oxen 
were in common use. These sleds were also used for drawing 
hay from the fields and other burthens in the svmimer season. 

The food of the people was quite simple. Rye and Indian corn 
were the principal grains raised. These were ground at the grist- 
mill, but not bolted. The coarse bran was separated with a hand 
sieve, and when it was desirable to obtain fine flour, the sifted 
meal was shaken in a fine sieve. Various but simple were the 
ways of cooking these meals. Some of the methods are still in 
use. The "rye-and-Tnjun"loaf will probably l)e retained to the 
latest posterity. One mode of preparing bread then very pre- 
valent is now entirely out of use, the baking of bannocks. It was 



538 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



in this manner : Thick batter was spread upon a plate or small 
sheet of iron, sometimes upon a bit of board, and set up edgewise 
before the kitchen fire. Where the family was large, a consider- 
able number of these would be before the fire at the same time. 
Rude as this method may seem, it required some skill to properly 
manage the baking. Care must be taken that the bread did not 
burn or slide down on the hearthstone. When one side was suf- 
ficiently baked, the bannock must be "turned," that the other side 
might be presented to the fire. To do this skilfully was regarded 
as a very desirable accomplishment. Meats were somewhat 
sparingly eaten. Beef and mutton could not well be afforded on 
account of the scarcity of cattle and sheep. Pork was not very 
abundant, for although almost every family kept swine, they were 
required to obtain their living by running at large during the sum- 
mer season, and were but little fattened in the fall. Some wild 
meats were eaten, and a good supply of fish was obtained from 
the brooks, ponds, and lakes. 

One very common dish was "bean porridge," prepared by boil- 
ing meat, beans, and Indian com together. "Boiled corn" was 
much eaten. The shelled kernels were first slightly boiled in weak 
lye, by which means the hulls were removed. They were then 
repeatedly rinsed in pure water in order to remove the alkaline 
matter, and afterwards subjected to several hours' boiling. When 
sullficiently cooked the com was served up with milk or molasses. 
Roasted potatoes, boiled fish, and butter furnished a healthful 
repast. Boiled meat, turnips, and brown bread afforded a sub- 
stantial dinner. Poultry, bacon, and eggs were eaten to some 
extent. Puddings were very common. Fine meal bread, sweet- 
ened with maple sugar or West India molasses, sometimes graced 
the supper table. "Hasty pudding and milk" was a very common 
dish, especially for children. 

The simple manner of living rendered the people of that time 
hardy and capable of performing a large amount of labor. It was 
not an uncommon thing for a man to fell an acre of trees in one 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. rog 

day. To be sure this was done in part by "driving," as it was 
termed. This was the method : A considerable number of trees 
were cut partly off ; then one very large and favorably situated was 
selected, which in falling would strike others, and these again 
others, until scores, and perhaps hundreds, would come crashing 
down at the same time. Still it required much physical energ)' 
and strength to accomplish that amount of work in so short a 
tmie. Piling was also very heavy work, and occasioned a lively 
competition. Two persons generally worked together, and it was 
regarded as disreputable for one to permit his end of the log to 
fall behind that of his fellow-laborer. 

Hunting and fishing were the principal amusements of the 
settlers, and in this profit was chiefly considered. In the fall bears 
were quite troublesome in the cornfields, and were destroyed in 
various ways— sometimes by being caught in log traps, or by 
being shot by guns set for the purpose, and sometimes by hunting. 
Their flesh in the autumn or early part of the winter was con- 
sidered very good. In the winter deer were taken in considerable 
numbers, game laws not being in much force at this time. Other 
wild game was hunted ; some for flesh, some for fur. and others to 
prevent depredations on the growing crops or domestic animals. 
At this period liquors were in common use, although seldom 
drunk immoderately except on extraordinary occasions. When 
friends met at the store or at their own house, "a treat" was ex- 
pected, and the storekeeper would have been regarded as nig- 
gardly who did not offer his customer a dram if he had made a 
considerable purchase. On all public occasions and social feasts 
liquors were provided, generally at the expense of the managers. 
Laborers, especially if the toil was unusually severe, expected 
their allowance of grog; even the housewife on washing day did 
not hesitate to take a "drop sweetened." It was always kept on 
hand for visitors, and however scanty and coarse might be the 
food offered, if the bowl of toddy or mug of flip was forthcoming, 
the claims of hospitality were satisfactorily complied with. A 



c^o HISTORY OF WOLFEBO ROUGH. 

bowl of toddy consisted of a half-pint of rum mixed with sugar 
and water, and was regarded as a drink for four persons. A mug 
of flip was composed of the same materials, but drunk warm. 
Town officers were supplied with liquor at the expense of the town, 
and frequently furnished it for persons calling at the town office 
on business. Sometimes the whole company present would be 
invited to drink. At the "vendue" of two vagrants in 1784, in 
Wolfeborough, twenty-one bowls of toddy were drunk at the ex- 
pense of the town. At the sale of the pews of the Wolfeborough 
meeting-house in 1791, liquors were provided by the selectmen. 
Notwithstanding the general use of intoxicating drinks at this 
period, drunkenness was not very common. 

The axe was the universal and most important implement of a 
settler in a New England forest. This, as well as all other farm- 
ing tools composed of iron or steel, was manufactured by the vil- 
lage blacksmith. It was usually quite heavy, and clumsily made. 
Sometimes it was broad on the edge, being shaped somewhat like 
the broad-axe. The hoe consisted of a small plate of hammered 
iron, to which was fastened a socket. Through this the handle was 
put, and fastened with wedges. The shovel was made of firm 
wood, and the blade occasionally bordered with iron, or "shod." 
The "plow irons" consisted of two parts, the colter and the "chip- 
and-wing," or share. The "wood-work" was made at the farmer's 
house. In constructing it timber was not sparingly used. The 
"furrow-board" was taken from a winding tree. The plow, being 
short and clumsy, would not well turn the sward, but seemed to 
be designed mainly for rooting. It was, however, an instrument 
not much needed, as most of the cereal and root crops were raised 
on a "burn." The harrow was made of the forking branches of a 
tree, into which wooden teeth were driven. 

It has been before said that hay was drawn to the stack or hovel 
upon sleds. This was usually the case, but sometimes a sledge 
was used. This consisted of two long poles, fastened together 
with cross-bars. The lighter ends of the poles were attached to 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBO ROUGH. 



541 



a horse, while the others dragged on the ground. The first at- 
tempt to manufacture wheels was in this manner: Large trucks 
were formed of plank, two of these were placed together in such 
a position that the grains of wood in one would cross those of 
the other, and fastened with three nails. On the outside of this 
apology of a wheel was fixed a cleat of very firm wood on which 
the axle might rest. Block wheels followed these ; they were 
constructed much like those used at the present time, only the 
felloes were much larger and were not ironed. 

The flail with which grain was threshed consisted of two stout 
cudgels fastened together with a cord or leathern string. The one 
held in the hand was called "the stafif," and was a little longer 
than the other, which was termed the "swingle." It was quite 
common for two persons to thresh together, each striking the 
grain alternately and with equal rapidity. Occasionally the flail 
string would break throwing the swingle high in the air, which 
in its descent was liable to give the laborer a blow on the head. 
One grindstone and a cross-cut saw generally answered for an 
entire neighborhood. The principal mechanical tools owned by 
a farmer were, with the exception of the axe, a gouge and a pod- 
auger. The gouge was an necessary accompaniment of the auger, 
as it was difficult to enter the wood with the auger until a hole 
was first made with the gouge. Besides these were the frow, an 
elongated wedge used in riving timber, and the shave. These 
last-mentioned tools were used chiefly in manufacturing shingles, 
which were then rived and shaven, and were much superior to 
those of the present time obtained by sawing. 

In preparing wool, cotton, and tow for spinning, it was neces- 
sary that these substances should first be formed into "rolls" 
with hand-cards. These rolls were a little more than a foot in 
length ; those of wool and cotton being round, and those of tow 
flattened. Carding parties were quite common, when several 
neighbors would each take a small bundle of wool, or more fre- 
quently cotton, and a pair of cards, and spend the afternoon in 



542 HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUOH. 

forming rolls, taking tea with the family which they visited. It 
was nearly as much labor to card as to spin a certain quantity 
of the raw material. Wool, cotton, and tow were spun on a "large 
wheel." This machine consisted of a narrow bench standing en 
the legs, the forward being more elevated than the back. At tl'c 
forward end were two small posts nearly perpendicular. To these 
was attached an iron or steel spindle, kept in place with "ears," 
formed of hemlock twigs or corn husks. At the back part of the 
bench arose another small post inclining backward. Near the top 
of this was a short axle on which revolved a broad-rimmed wheel 
about four feet in diameter. A band of twisted yarn passed from 
the wheel to a grooved "whirl" on the spindle. In spinning the 
roll was taken in the left hand and attached to the spindle ; at the 
same moment a brisk motion was given to the wheel with the 
right hand, the spinner slowly stepping back and drawing out a 
thread of yarn. Usually a small wooden pin was carried in the 
right hand with which the wheel was moved. This was called a 
"wheel-pin." The yarn was wound from the spindle with a reel 
into skeins. Each skein consisted of seven knots of forty threads, 
and each thread was required to be six feet long, so that a skein 
of yarn was one continuous thread one thousand six hundred and 
eighty feet in length. It was a daily stint to spin five skeins of 
wool yarn, or to card and spin three skeins. A woman perform- 
ing this amount of labor usually received fifty cents a week and 
board. The yarn intended for warp was subsequently wound on 
spools, which were hollow cylinders of wood, with a ridge at each 
end. This was done in the following manner : The skein of yarn 
was stretched on a "swift," or revolving reel, and the spool was 
placed on the spindle of the wheel before described. Tlien, by a 
continuous turning of the wheel, the yarn was transferred from 
the swift to the spool. The spools were then set in a frame called 
a "spool frame," being kept in their places by small wooden rods, 
and the threads from the several spools were carried collectively 
around wooden pins set in another frame called "warping bars." 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 543 

This process was denominated warping, and was the last step 
preparatory to putting the yarn in the loom for weaving. 

The loom to be found in almost every farmhouse consisted of a 
stout frame of wood about six feet broad, five feet long, and five 
feet high. At one end was a large cylinder around which the 
warp was wound. This was called the "yarn beam." At a little 
distance from this was suspended "the harness," connected with 
cords to pulleys above and treadles below. The harness was made 
by connecting two slender shafts with numerous threads. By 
knotting these threads of twine, "eyes" were formed through 
which the threads of the warp were carried separately. Near the 
harness and immediately before it hung the lathe. This was a 
wooden frame, the upper part of which rested on the timbers of 
the loom in such a manner that it could easily be swung forward 
and backward. At the lower part were two cross-bars, one of 
which was movable. Between these cross-bars, which were 
grooved on the inner edges, was fixed the "slaie," now usually 
termed the reed. This was a frame three or four feet long and 
four inches broad, in which were set, in an upright position, small 
slips of reed or upright slats. The threads of the warp were 
drawn through the interstices between these slats, then carried 
over a square timber called the "breast beam," and finally con- 
nected with a small cylinder called the "cloth beam," situated in 
the lower part of the loom. Fronting the breast beam was placed 
a high seat for the weaver. The "treadles" (in weaving plain 
cloth two were used) were narrow boards, one end of each at- 
tached to the framework of the loom, and the other to the harness. 
The manner of weaving was as follows : A quill, usually the 
woody stock of some plant, from which the pith had been re- 
moved, was wound with woof yarn and fixed on a small rod in 
a hand shuttle. By the action of the treadle on the harness the 
alternate threads of the warp were separated. With one hand 
the operator then threw the shuttle between these threads thus 
separated, and with the other brought forth the lathe containing 



2^ HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 

the "slaie." This pressed the woof-thread close to the one which 
preceeded it. The lathe was then swung back, the foot pressed 
on the other treadle, the upper and lower threads of the warp, 
by the action of the harness, were made to cross each other, and 
thus confine the woof in its place. The shuttle was then thrown 
back through the new opening between these threads of the warp, 
and the lathe again brought forward ; and this course being con- 
tinued, the web of cloth was at length produced. To weave five 
yards of cloth was the allotment for a day's work. When more 
complicated webs were woven, four or more treadles were used. 




BENJAMIN F. PARKER 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKER. 

Benjamin F. Parker,* the historian of Wolfeborough, lived here 
a long, useful life and was for threescore and ten years an active 
citizen of the town. Mr. Parker was bom April 21, 1817, and 
came to Wolfeborough at the age of fourteen to live with Robert 
Wiggin, a relative of his mother. Mr. Parker was the son of 
Samuei Parker, who followed the sea, and died in 1819 of yellow 
fever in Florida. Samuel Parker was of the well-known Boston 
family of the name that came from England early in the seven- 
teenth centurj-. 

Young Parker was educated in the old Wolfeborough and 
Tuftonborough academy and at the age of eighteen began what 
proved to be an eminently successful career as a teacher. He 
taught in the public schools of Wolfeborough and adjacent towns 
and was also assistant to the principal of the academy. In 1847, 
he began trade with his foster father, under the firm name of 
Parker & Wiggin. This firm and its successors did business for 
nearly fifty years. 

In 1850, he married Harriet B., a daughter of Daniel Whitten, 
and by her had eight children, six of whom survive. From their 
marriage, until Mr. Parker's death, Dec. 30, 1900, they had moved 
but once, and then only from the house next door. 

We quote here from the words of eulogy pronounced by Rev. 
George L. White of New Hampton : 

"An ancient high priest of Israel. Jehoiada by name, when he 
came to die, was buried in the city of David among the Kings, be- 
cause he had done good to Israel and toward God and his house. 
An unusual thing — a very high mark of honor, for a priest to be 
buried with royalty, and all because of distinguished services to 
the church and state. 



* A short genealogry appears on page 453. 



546 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. 



"Deacon Parker has been so long identified with the interests of 
the town, and of this church — he has been so useful to them both, 
that it has seemed to me that he deserved at our hands as kingly 
a burial as Israel of old gave to the high priest Jehoiada. 

"You know how burial in Westminster Abbey is regarded by all 
English-speaking people. Kings and counsellors, statesmen and 
generals, poets and orators, the distinguished for a dozen centuries, 
have been given burial there. It is the highest honor that Eng- 
land can give her dead. To my mind, it is better to live so well, 
to do so much good, in the humble walks of life, that the common 
people wdll come to our burial, grieve deeply over our departure, 
remember gratefully our virtues and kindly forget our faults, than 
to be buried in Westminster Abbey, or any other most sacred and 
venerable burying-place. 

"Wolfeborough mourns for Deacon Parker today. A long life has 
been his : lived largely right in your midst, identified from the 
earliest with most of the important interests of your town, a man 
public-spirited, of wide sympathies, of unusual breadth of mind. 

"Yes, Deacon Parker was a Christian. He loved his fellow-men. 
He evidenced that love in the most convincing way, for he never 
shrank from social ostracism or contumely, if these stood in the 
path of his duty. From the earliest he was an abolitionist and 
was actively engaged m behalf of the slave when it was not a pop- 
ular thing at all. At our General Conferences, he would draft 
resolutions, and defend them with strong and convincing speeches ; 
he would contribute of his means to maintain meetings in behalf 
of the slave, and to forward the underground railway. In short, 
he threw himself into the abolition cause with all the ardor of 
which he was capable and for which he was always so con- 
spicuous. 

"He scorned to be a coward. Others might keep silence out of 
policy, self-interest, timorousness, or fear of scorn. Deacon Parker 
never hesitated to speak his convictions. 

"Deacon Parker never grew old — let me hasten to correct — he 



HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUQH. 547 

was young to the last clay of his life. It has been humorously said 
of Scotchmen that they are born with their minds all made up 
and they think life too short to make it worth while to change 
them. Deacon Parker could change his mind. He was always 
open to evidence. He always was a patient truth-seeker. He 
trusted God ; believed Him to be at the head of human affairs ; 
that He was able to work out His own will concerning us, after 
a method of His own choosing, and that a righteous principle can 
never die, nor suffer more than temporary defeat." 

Mr. Parker's life work was this history of his beloved town, to 
which he gave freely of time and painstaking effort. This work 
will be his enduring monument. 



K 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Chapteb I Page 5 

Discovery of PIscataqua River — New England — Council of Ply- 
mouth — Gorges and Mason — Laconia — First Settlements at PIs- 
cataqua — New Hampshire — Mason's Grant — Death of Mason and 
his Heirs — Land sold to Samuel Allen — Young Mason's Claims 
and the Disposal of the Property. 

Chapteb II Page 10 

Grant of Township — Klngswood — Admission of Associates — 
How the New Town was named — The Miles Road — Elisha 
Bryant fells Trees — First Meeting of Town Proprietors — Town 
named, surveyed, and divided — Effort to promote Settlement — 
Terms under which Land could be acquired — Separation into 
Lots — Descriptive Boundaries — Boundaries of Subdivisions and 
Additions. 

Chapter III Page 31 

Topography — Bays of Wolfeborough Harbor — Smith's Pond and 
River — Lake Wentworth and its Islands — Its Meadows, Beaches 
and Tributary Streams — Crooked Pond — Loon Island — Scenic 
Views from the Lake — Tumble-Down Dick — Copple Crown — 
Longstack — Belknap — Ossipee — Presidential Ranges — Neighbor- 
ing Foot-hills — Rust's Pond — Perry's Brook — Mirror Lake — 
Beach, Lily, and Batson's Ponds — Meserve and Factory Brooks 
— Center Square, Stockbridge, Boston, Trask, Whiteface, and 
Cotton Mountains — The Valley Road — Minerals — Products — In- 
dian Relics. 

Chapteb IV Page 43 

Notice of Proprietors' Meeting — Form of Contract — Note to 
Josiah Miles — March's Contract — Titles to Proprietors' Lots — 
Rust's Deed and a Description of his Lot — Description of Sun- 
dry Lots — Greorge Meserve's Contract to erect Mills — Livius' 
Proposition — Meserve's Failure and the New Contract — Lands 
forfeited by a Few Proprietors and re-granted to Governor Went- 
worth — Blake and Libbey fell Trees — Rustic Surgery — Town 
permanently settled In 1768 — Earlier Visitors in the Town. 



550 TABLE OP CONTENTS. 

Chapter V Page 55 

Governor John Wentworth — Parentage and Ancestry — A Stu- 
dent at Harvard — Friendship with Dr. Ammi R. Cutter — Be- 
comes an Interested Proprietor of Wolfeborough — Appointed 
Joint Agent for the Province at the British Court — Made Sur- 
veyor of the King's Woods in North America and Governor of 
the Province — His Reception at Portsmouth — Felicitous Com- 
mencement of his Administration — Lady Wentworth — The Gov- 
ernor's Interest in Dartmouth College and Road-building-^ 
Livius' Charge of Malfeasance— Political Antagonisms— Revolu- 
tionary Foreshadowings — Goes to Portsmouth — His Last Official 
Act — Subsequent Career and Death. 

Chapter VI Page 74 

Sketch of Dr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter — A Notable Figure in the 
Early History of the Town — Other Proprietors— Judge David 
Sewall. 

Chapter VII Page 80 

The Governor's Farm — Innate Love of Earth — Influence of Eng- 
lish Country Life upon Governor Wentworth — Location and 
Area of the Farm — The Mansion-house and Surroundings — How 
the Land was prepared— The Wall — The Park — Promotion of 
Local Interests — The Piscataqua Canal — Roads to Canada — Pur- 
suits of First Settlers of New Hampshire — Dr. Dwight's Charac- 
terization—Development of the Governor's Plans— His Inten- 
tions — Occupation of the New House — New Hampshire's Oldest 
Watering-place — Legendary Lore — The Governor's Slaves — The 
"High Gust of Wind" — Description of the Mansion in 1770— 
The Governor's Retainers — War Clouds Arise — Hurried Visit to 
the Farm — The Final Scenes of the Drama. 

Chapter VIII Page 98 

Happenings at the Farm after the Governor's Departure — His 
Exile — Confiscation of Property — Personal Eflfects Sold — The 
Cattle feed the Patriot Army — Plans for disposing of the Estate 
— The Cabotts' Purchase in 1782 — Daniel Raymond becomes the 
Owner — Division and Sale of Land — The Mansion-house burned 
— Sad Reflections — Trend of Development of the Land — The Fu- 
ture of the Farm. 

Chapter IX Page 105 

First Settlers — Henry Rust clears Land — His Sons winter in 
the Town — His Wife--A Sketch of his Life — Reuben Libbey— 
Settler's Lot — Parker's Agent — A Town Official, Soldier, and 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 55 1 

■I 

Bear Hunter — Paul March and his Contract — Location of the 
Seven Farms — The Fifty-acre Lots — The Lucas, Newall, Avery, 
Manning, and Gould Interests — Second Farm — Samuel Teb- 
betts — Dudley L. Libbey — Blake Folsom — Daniel E. Leavitt — 
Third Farm — Joseph Lary — John Sinkler — Daniel Wiggin — 
Benjamin Webster — Fourth Farm — Thomas Piper sells Farm, 
and settles on Fifty-acre Lot — Two Sons in the Revolution — • 
Timothy Piper's Family — John Piper's Remarkable Family — 
Ebenezer Meader purchases Piper's Lot — The first Pig arrives 
in Town — A Journey through the Forest — The Blacksmith — 
Fifth Farm — Thomas Taylor — First Male Child born — Ben- 
jamin Folsom — Jonathan Chase — A Centenarian — The Folsom 
Family — Sixth Farm — Benjamin Blake — Jonathan and Daniel 
Blake — Seventh Farm — Widow Mary Fullerton — Two Soldiers 
— The Daughters. 

Chapter X Page 121 

Other Settlers — Jacob Sceggel — His Son and Grandson — Aaron 
Frost — His Encounter with a Bear — Grafton Nutter — John 
Flagg — Jotham Rindge — Robert Calder — James Conner — Enoch 
Thomas— Andrew Wiggin — Jonathan Hersey — John Parker — 
Matthew S. Parker — Henry Rust Parker — Moses and Ichabod 
Tebbetts — George Woodhouse — Thomas Triggs — Joseph Kenis- 
ton — Samuel Hide — Joseph Leavitt — Abram Prebble. 

CiiAi'TER XI Page 128 

Local Government established — The Charter — The Annual Fair 
— The First Town-meeting — Officers chosen — Town-meeting Rec- 
ords — Examples of Phonetic Spelling — A Highway Surveyor's 
W^arrant — Specified Duties of Town Officers — Fence-viewers — 
Field-drivers — Pound-keepers — Hog-reeves — Benedicks — Pounds 
— The Constable — The Tithing-man — The Deer-keeper — The 
Race-ground — Early Fairs — Methods of Traveling. 

Chapter XII Page 139 

The Revolution — Uncertainty prevails in 1775 — Census of 1773 
and 1775 — Ammunition purchased — The Town acts — Moses Ham 
appointed Agent — Early Enlistments — Organization of the 
Train-band — Meager Records — Money and Labor gtven — Differ- 
ence as to Town Quota of Men — Town-meeting to provide Sol- 
diers — Two Men enlist — Burgoyne's Raid — General Whipple's 
Letter — How the Soldiers were fitted out — No New Hampshire 
Conscripts — Exempts — Town declines to send Delegate to Pro- 
vincial Convention. 



552 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Chapter XIII Page 157 

The Revolution — Reuben Libbey goes to War instead of a Sub- 
stitute — His Hay-crop harvested by a Labor Tax — James Fuller- 
ton and James Wiggin enlist — Wiggin honorably discharged — 
Other Enlistments — New Hampshire furnishes the Army Rum 
and Beef — Progress of the Conflict — Bounties vainly offered — 
State supplies Town's Quota — Full list of Soldiers — Their Ser- 
vice — OflScers — Fatal Casualties — Town's War Debt — Farms at- 
tached for State Tax — Debt finally wiped out — Prospect for the 
Future. 

Chapter XIV Page 174 

Estes Family — Cotton Family — Rogers Family — Hersey Family 
— Martin Family — Brief Sketches of Other Families. 

Chapter XV Page 185 

Ebenezer Home and his Success as a Road-builder — Something 
of his Family — Why Goose Corner was so-called — Roads built in 
all Directions — History and Description of the Ossipee Road — 
Other important Roads laid out since 1800 — The Village Streets. 

Chapter XVI Page 200 

Middleton — Nicholas Austin becomes Bumptious — Petition for 
New Town — Remonstrance — Second Petition — Second Remon- 
strance — Parker's Bill — Road to Middleton — Interesting Cor- 
respondence on the Matter — Petition from Citizens of Ossipee 
— Bristol — Wolfeborough Addition — Action of Selectmen on Pe- 
titions — Alton and Tuftonborough Annexations. 

Chapter XVII Page 221 

Varney Family — Bassett Family — Brackett Family — Jesse Whit- 
ten's Family — Haines Family — Hardy Family — Edmonds Fam- 
ily — Chamberlain Family — Nute Family — Nudd Family — Shorey 
Family — Some of the more Recent Arrivals. 

Chapter XVIII Page 242 

Inventory of 1788 — A Good Growth indicated — Annual Town- 
meeting of 1788 — Action looking toward the Building of a Meet- 
ing-house. 

Chapter XIX Page 254 

The Meeting-house — Pledged Donation from Proprietors — De- 
lays — Exchange of Lots — Labor Tax — New Proposal of Pro- 
prietors — Purchase of Pews and Sale of Lumber — The Builders 
— Time Required to Build — The Cost — House Described — 
Changed to Town-house — Its Final Disposition — Part of Lot 
Sold — The Burying-yard — Fires. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



553 



Chapter XX Page 266 

The Early Ministry — New England Custom — Andrew Collins — 
John Allen — Benjamin Randall — Isaac Townsend — Ebenezer 
Allen — His Call to be Town Minister — His Reply — Controversy 
— Protest against Ordination of Townsend — Protest against 
Ordination of Allen — Ordination of Townsend — Ordination of 
Allen— The Sermon— The Charge— The Right Hand of Fellow- 
ship — The Entertainment — A Somewhat Spiritous as well as 
Spiritual Gathering. 

Chapter XXI Page 295 

First Minister's Lot — The Parsonage — Ministerial Tax — Var- 
ney's Petition — Exempts — The Lawsuit — The Glove — Allen's An- 
cestry and Posterity — His Work and Character — Sudden Death 
— Sketch of Elder Townsend — Comparison of the Two First 
Clergymen. 

Chapter XXII Page 306 

Churches and Other Religious Organizations — First Church Or- 
ganized — Christian Churches Established in 1812 and 1822 — 
Co-workers Fernald and Townsend and Their Followers — 
Stephen Coffin — Allen's Church — John P. Clevelard — The First 
Sunday-school — The Academy Chapel Finished — Thomas P. 
Beach — Dr. Jeremiah Blake — The Methodists — The Friends — 
The Universalists — The Unitarians — The Adventists — The Cath- 
olics — Location of Churches. 

Chapter XXIII Page 330 

Schools — Andrew Collins — Isaiah Home — Grain Currency — Four 
Districts — Schoolrooms — Furniture — Eight Districts — School 
Lot sold — Schoolhouses — Teachers — Dudley Leavitt — The Fire 
List — The Sweeping List — Boarding around — Little Republics 
— Brandy Scheme — School Committees — Exhibit of Schools in 
1840 — District Two — District One — Union of Districts — High 
School — Town System Adopted — Exhibit of Schools 1898 — 
Women Teachers come to the front — The First Stove. 

Chapter XXIV Page 353 

Early Banns — Marrying and Giving in Marri: le in the Old 
Days. 

Chapter XXV Page 402 

Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy — First Meeting of 
Proprietors — Incorporation — Academy Lot — 'I'rustees — Academy 
Building — Officers and Students in 1823 — Teachers and Stu- 



554 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

dents in 1836 — Henry Wilson — Lyceum — Christian Institute — 
Brewster Free Academy — Extract from Will of John Brewster 
— Charter — Trustees — Teachers — Academy Grounds — Early Li- 
braries — Brewster Library — Town Trustees Appointed. 

Chapter XXVI Page 417 

Soldiers of 1812 — Civil War — Provision for Soldiers and Their 
Families — Enlisted Soldiers — Resident Survivors — Major James 
R. Newell — Major William H. Trickey — Captain Alvah S. Libbey 
— Oflacers who became Prominent — Civil List of the Town. 

Chapter XXVII Page 435 

The Brewster Family — John Brewster and his Liberal Bequests 
to His Native Town — Text of a Portion of His Will. 

Chapter XXVIII Page 444 

Wolfeborough's Foremost Settler — Colonel Henry Rust and his 
Long Train of Descendants — The Four Henrys — The Three 
Worthies — The Parker Branch of the Family — Other Parkers. 

Chapter XXIX Page 455 

Newspapers — Carroll County Republican Established at South 
Wolfeborough — Carroll County Pioneer — Carroll County Regis- 
ter — Granite State News — Carroll County Democrat — Sketch of 
Charles H. Parker — Lawyers and Doctors — Brief Sketches of 
Men famous in These Callings — '"Squire"' Batchelder — Charles F. 
Hill— William Fox— Sewall W. Abbott— Drs. Cutter, McNorton, 
Hall, Tebbetts, Pattee, and King. 

Chapter XXX Page 468 

Mills and Manufacturing — The Old Taverns — The Newer Sum- 
mer Hotels — Banks — Early Stores and Traders. 

Chapter XXXI Page 477 

The Avery Family — Samuel Avery's Connection with the Old 
Academy — Incidents in Life of Henry Wilson — Thompson Fam- 
ily — Huggins Family — Stevenson Family — Daniel Pickering, 
Wolfeborough's Leading Citizen — Charles Rollins — Thomas L. 
Whitton. 

Chapter XXXII Page 493 

Casualties and Fires — William FuUerton drownea the Year the 
Town was incorporated — Numerous Drowning Accidents — The 
Varney and Jerome Tragedies — Henry Rust's Boys burned out 
—The South Wolfeborough Fires— The Big Fire of 1887— In- 
cendiarism — Last Disastrous Fire. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. ,-c 

Chapter XXXIII Page 500 

Fire Precinct Established— Fire Engine Purchased — Hose 
Companies succeed Volunteer Firemen— Electric Light Plant In- 
stalled— Wolfeborough Water Works— Post Routes and Stages 
—Primitive Postal Facilities— The Dover-Sandwich Stages- 
Famous Drivers. 

Chapteb XXXIV Page 507 

Efarly Transportation Projects— Roads and Canals- Facilities 
aCTorded by the Lake— Joseph Smith and his Gundalow— Old- 
time Rafting— The First Steamer, Belknap— The Lady of the 
Lake— Wolfeborough gets in Closer Touch with the World- 
Negotiations for Railroad Connections— Wolfeborough Road 
Finally Constructed— Difficulties Overcome — Steamers Dover 
and Mount Washington— Story of the Lady— Famous Old Craft 
of a Generation Ago — The Future — Exports of Former Days. 

Chapter XXXV Page 516 

The Public Landing— How Judge Sewall disposed of his Lands 
In Wolfeborough— Smith's Bridge Village built on his Original 
Lot — Squatters on the landing— Sewall's Statement — Develop- 
ment of the North Shore. 

Chapter XXXVI Page 522 

The Early Homes of the Settlers— Methods of Building in Vogue 
—John Lary's Wife a True Helpmeet— Two-story Houses of 
Seventy-five Years Ago — Items of Interest about Them— Holi- 
days of Our Fathers— The Country Store as a Resort— Town 
Meeting, its Serious and Sportive Side — Independence Day — 
The Glories of Muster. 

Chapter XXXVII Page 528 

Items of Interest — Bonus paid to take the Inventory — Whipping 
Post— Origin of Shad in the Lake — Big Storm of 1816— Bill for 
Burying a Pauper— Hot Political Frays— Town Surveyed— 
Thomas Chase's Wall— First Carriage, Umbrella, and Cider-mill 
—A Big Tavern Bill— Changes Around the Lake Front— Two 
Famous Apples. 

Chapter XXXVIII Page 532 

Old Time Customs — How the Settler prepared and cultivated His 
Land — Spinning and Weaving — Food and Clothing — How they 
"Drove" Trees— Game of All Kinds Plentiful— Stimulants not 
frowned upon — The Pioneer's Axe — Plain Living and High 
Thinking, 

Sketch of Benjamin F. Pabker Page 545 



INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Abbott, Hon. Sewall W Page 462 

Advent Chapel " 318 

Avery, Samuel " 478 

Blckford, James " 238 

Brewster Academy " 338 

Brewster, John " 434 

Brewster Memorial Hall " 136 

Center Wolfeborough " 128 

Chamberlain, Daniel " 236 

Church, Christian " 306 

Church, Congregational '* 306 

Church, Free Baptist " 305 

Church, Unitarian " 306 

Clark, Greenleaf B " 240 

East Wolfeborough " 128 

Edgerly, Nancy " 532 

Fernald, Jonathan P " 102 

Folsom, Blake " US 

Hall, Dr. Jeremiah F " 464 

Haines, Joseph R " 23 

Huggins, John P " 484 

Huggins, Samuel... " 482 

Lewando, Joseph " 496 

Libbey, Capt. Alvah S " 426 

Lord, Edwin H " 408 

Martin's Hill, View from " 30 

Meader, John " 114 

Header's Retreat " 116 

Meeting House, East Wolfeborough " 318 

Meeting House, North Wolfeborough " 318 

Meeting House, South Wolfeborough " 318 

Meeting House, Center Wolfeborough " 318 

Newell, Major James R " 422 

North Wolfeborough " 128 

Old Brick Schoolhouse " 338 

Paris, Elder Cummins " 312 

Parker, Benjamin F " 544 



o 



INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ^jy 

Parker, Dr. Henry R Page 452 

Parker, Charles H " 458 

Pickering, Daniel " 486 

Pickering Homestead " 472 

Piper, Hon. Charles F •' 112 

Pond Road " 36 

Remick, Charles " 490 

Residence, E. B. Dickinson " 516 

Residence, Jos. W. Goodwin " 234 

Residence, Mrs. Martha Jones " 506 

Rogers Homestead " igO 

Rogers, Nathaniel " 176 

Rollins, Charles " 488 

Rust, Hon. Henry B " 444 

Rust Pond " 36 

Swett, Alpheus " 494 

Thompson, Moses " 480 

Trickey, Major William H " 424 

Wentworth, Gov. John " 54 

Wentworth, Lady Frances " 62 

Wentworth, Mansion " 80 

Wentworth Mansion, Plan of " 84 

Whitten, Jesse " 228 

Whitton, Hon. Thomas L " 492 

Wolf eborough Bay " 30-31 

Wolfeborough Falls " 128 

Wolfeborough Village, Winter " 166 



«-^ ^^ .1 



^^-n^. V 







• .^ 


















.^ ., 



'^•i- 

















<> *'TV 






♦ AT "^ • 












«4q. 



> «.* -^ «•' 



■q. *. 










<> *'7vr» ,& 



0^ »' 



j^y^rju 






'bV" 



- ^^^^^^ V 



^^ * 




;♦ ^y 






» ^3^o o 



«4 o^ : 




'o *0^ 






'o ^0 










o 3^o o- 















' 0- V**^.'\/ 








• "-^^ 




..-• O'' X-^^^'\^' %.'^^'\<P \'^^-\^' "o* 








"•-.'V 0°* .-•'■•• ' 



*A0< 












'J^^^ o 



• 0^ 














'•^ A*" ► 








^ 4,*' '«*• t^r^^ * ^ 




o 




■ • 



^w 



BOOKBINDING 

..lllY AUG 1989 




't 














^0 -^.i. ' 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




008 934 685 A 



